What does hastiness mean?
Hastiness means acting with excessive speed, often without enough thought, care, or preparation. The word is commonly used for decisions, speech, or actions that seem impulsive and ill considered, and it usually carries a negative judgement. For example, a business may criticize the hastiness of a decision made before its consequences were understood, while a person may apologize for the hastiness of a remark made in anger. Although haste can sometimes be useful, hastiness specifically suggests that speed has outrun judgement. The noun is most often used in formal or carefully critical contexts and is normally uncountable, though the plural form "hastinesses" is also possible, especially when referring to separate instances of rash behaviour. It is related in meaning and origin to "haste," "hasty," "hasten," and "hastily."
nounThe quality of acting or doing something too quickly, especially without sufficient thought or preparation. It often implies haste that leads to carelessness, error, or regret.
- The quality of being too quick or impulsive, especially in acting or making decisions without adequate thought.
"The decision was made with such hastiness that no one had time to consider its consequences."
"The manager regretted the hastiness of the announcement, made before the facts had been confirmed."
"Her usual hastiness disappeared when the consequences of the mistake began to sink in."
The plural is uncommon; the singular mass noun is preferred in most contexts.
"The errors resulted from several separate hastinesses during the final preparations."
Hastiness is speed with a warning label attached: moving fast can save time, but rushing often creates more work than it prevents.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hastiness come from?
Hastiness was formed in English by adding the suffix "-ness" to "haste," a word that had already developed the broader sense of urgency or speed. Haste itself comes from Old English hǣst, meaning haste or urgency, and belongs to a Germanic word family that includes modern Dutch haast and German Hast. The later formation "hastiness" gave the concept a more explicit negative emphasis, focusing on speed that is excessive or poorly judged.
How hastiness is actually used
Hastiness is usually uncountable and has a negative or critical connotation. It is more formal than the common phrase "rushing into things" and often describes conduct that is unnecessarily rapid or insufficiently considered.
Easily confused with hastiness
Haste can refer to speed or urgency in general, whereas hastiness specifically emphasizes excessive speed and a lack of careful thought.