Expeditious
Done with speed and efficiency; acting promptly and without delay.
adjectiveExpeditious
Done with speed and efficiency; acting promptly and without delay.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a courier sprinting through a busy city street. His parcels are perfectly organized, his steps precise, and he hands each package to the right person with a smile—everything happens in an expeditious rush that still feels calm and controlled.
Sounds Like
ek-spuh-DIH-shuhs
Looks Like
expedite, expedition
Remember This
Expeditious describes the speed or efficiency of an action or process, not a person by default (though you can describe a person as expeditious in very formal contexts). The related verb is expedite; related nouns include expediency and expeditiousness.
Other Forms
Connect With
efficient, prompt, swift, rapid; related terms: expedite, expediency, expeditiousness
Note
Avoid confusing expeditious with slower or hesitant actions. Use it for fast, efficient outcomes (e.g., services, procedures, responses). Common collocations: expeditious service, expeditious handling, expeditious processing.
Study Deeper
- The expeditious processing of visa applications reduced wait times for travelers.
- The hospital's expeditious response saved lives during the crisis.
From Latin expeditus meaning 'unimpeded, unfettered', derived from expedire 'to free, release' (hence free to move quickly once unburdened).
Think of express delivery: expeditious describes something done with express-like speed and efficiency. The word evokes fast, reliable action—the same mental cue you use for rapid delivery.
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Clemency
nounMercy or leniency shown toward someone, especially by a judge or official, sparing or reducing punishment.
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nounThe quality of being careful, thorough, and persistent in one's work; steady, earnest effort toward a goal.
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adjectiveTending to introduce new ideas, methods, or devices; creatively original and ahead of current practice.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
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Accidental
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adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
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adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
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adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
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adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.