short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlivd 

also

-ˈlīvd 

: not living or lasting long

short-lived insects

short-lived joy

Synonyms of short-lived

• brief
• temporary
• flash
• transient
• passing
• fleeting
• ephemeral

Examples of short-lived in a Sentence

the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time

Recent Examples on the Web

Bonds rallied and yields dropped on the news, but the impact was short-lived. — Steve Kopack, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have also been enrolled in schools, which gives the impression the move won’t be as short-lived as some reports suggested. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 20 Aug. 2026

But the move does nothing to solve the underlying problem, and the effect was short-lived. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026

Cabrera’s return was short-lived, as the right-hander is once again dealing with a blister issue on top of more ineffectiveness. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for short-lived

• outlived
• relived

Kids Definition

short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlīvd, 

-ˌlivd

: living or lasting only a short time

short-lived blooms

short-lived joy