: not living or lasting long
short-lived insects
short-lived joy

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
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.
Our vow to write to each other after 1977 was short-lived, and many years had passed since our families were in touch, though the ersatz-silver salt and pepper shakers still sat in my mother’s china cabinet—her most prized piece of furniture—and were pulled out for special occasions. Jhumpa Lahiri, New Yorker, 30 June 2025 His stint was short-lived, as fans strongly preferred the original Cartwright trio. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 29 June 2025 The tornadoes were short-lived, with winds of 80 to 90 mph. Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 June 2025 Andrea was short-lived and well out to sea, but served notice that Hurricane season is here. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for short-lived

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-lived was in 1588

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Cite this Entry

“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-lived. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

short-lived

adjective
ˈshȯrt-ˈlīvd,
-ˌlivd
: living or lasting only a short time
short-lived blooms
short-lived joy

More from Merriam-Webster on short-lived

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