IMMEDIATE Synonyms: 139 Similar and Opposite Words

immediate

adjective

i-ˈmē-dē-ət

Definition of immediate

as in instantaneous

done or occurring without any noticeable lapse in time felt immediate relief after taking the painkiller

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in primary

done or working without something else coming in between she is my immediate superior, so I report to her

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in swift

done, carried out, or given without delay immediate treatment saved the victim of the massive heart attack

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in near

not being distant in time, space, or significance for the victims of the terrorist attack, the incident is as immediate as yesterday's news

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in current

existing or in progress right now we need to solve the immediate problems before working on the more long-term ones

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of immediate In the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studios either shuffled their product directly to streaming or waited a mere 17 days for their films to become available to buy or rent at home. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Kaplan described the current move more as a market nod to policymakers than an immediate act of discipline. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026 The men weren’t due to be picked up for another 11 days and there was no way McCoy would survive without immediate medical attention. — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026 People are anxious about the costs of both their immediate and long-term needs, said David Chavern, president and CEO of ACLI. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for immediate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for immediate

Adjective

But his son went to meet Kaya, and the connection was almost instantaneous.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 27 Aug. 2026
And all have been just as vulnerable to the near-instantaneous bootlegging.

— Gene Maddaus, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of instantaneous

Adjective

Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-90s to near 100 degrees, with heat index values as high as 105 degrees.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Organizations must be able to trace agent behavior across cloud and SaaS systems in near-real time, not through post-incident investigations that take days or weeks.

— Brian Contos, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of near

Adjective

According to the International Energy Agency, global small modular reactor capacity could reach roughly 40 GW by 2050 under current policies, or as much as 120 GW under an accelerated scenario.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
The longer the current situation continues, the greater the strain on an economy already struggling with shortages, inflation and restrictions on trade.

— Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of current

Adjective

This piece argues critical thinking was built for reflection and human opponents, not for fluent, instant AI output.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Another really handy feature that XTU has included is a magnetic instant snap-in magnetic mount, which locks in securely to the bottom of the camera allowing for it to be mounted in various ways – selfie stick, tripod, dashcam or on a helmet.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of instant

Adjective

Trout, the face of the franchise, has nonetheless been clear and direct about his desire to remain in Anaheim.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
The money supported Parton’s My People Fund, which provided direct financial assistance to families who lost their homes.

— Janelle Ash , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of direct

Adjective

The interaction has to be timely, relevant and worth the HCP’s attention.

— Rahul Saluja, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
That’s because, while rising costs are a barrier for too many, even those who can afford comprehensive health insurance are finding money can’t buy you a timely appointment with most doctors.

— Marj Halperin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of timely

Browse Nearby Words

immediacy

immediate

immediately

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Immediate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/immediate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of immediate

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes