Synonym Chooser

How is the word ephemeral different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ephemeral are evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When would evanescent be a good substitute for ephemeral?

The words evanescent and ephemeral are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

How are the words fugitive and fleeting related as synonyms of ephemeral?

Both fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy

When could momentary be used to replace ephemeral?

The words momentary and ephemeral can be used in similar contexts, but momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

In what contexts can transient take the place of ephemeral?

The synonyms transient and ephemeral are sometimes interchangeable, but transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When can transitory be used instead of ephemeral?

In some situations, the words transitory and ephemeral are roughly equivalent. However, transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

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 ephemeral Photographers also took note of the entirely ordinary and ephemeral things around them: a shelf of glassware, a broom in a courtyard, a tree, a leaf. Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 24 May 2025 Alcohol is about bringing people together and creating memorable moments, which is what these ephemeral events want to achieve. Clara Ludmir, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025 The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime. Ajdina Halilovic, Quanta Magazine, 7 May 2025 Such is the case with Tyla, who wore a Balmain gown made of sand to match 2024's theme of the ephemeral nature of fashion. Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ephemeral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemeral
Adjective
  • Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Launched in 2016, The New European was intended to be a four-edition pop-up newspaper - a temporary exercise aimed at putting the pro-EU case and lobbying for a second referendum.
    Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • The new cutoff date is now September 17, giving users temporary relief from a looming ban.
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Now, the better part of two weeks after tactical Officer Krystal Rivera died in the friendly fire incident, investigators are still searching for the suspect who sparked a brief foot pursuit that ultimately led to the fatal gunfire in a Chatham apartment building.
    Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025
  • Following a brief stint in public relations, their work has now appeared in lifestyle and culture publications such as Men's Health, Complex… Read More Read More On: Home Design News Phoenix Real Estate Like this article?
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Compared to an initial version of the budgets presented to City Council members in May, the ones that were adopted include an additional $194,000 and $160,000 in transient occupancy tax revenue for 2026 and 2027, respectively.
    Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • What explosive and transient events occur in the universe?
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Other main themes that guests can find in Guidi’s work are the relationship between space and light, between the solidity of architecture and the fleeting nature of the instant, between urban space and individual perception, between material traces and memory.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • To choose security over a passion that may be fleeting? Much of the humor in the film flows from Lucy’s cynicism about life and love.
    Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to Ben Taylor’s Passer Rating metric, this past season was the best passing year of Robinson’s career – grading as a respectable 5.3 out of 10 (53rd percentile).
    Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • With each passing year, the anniversaries of key events in World War II serve as a reminder of our slow loss of a great generation of Americans.
    Medianews Group, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • There’s a transitory nature in a lot of communities, so maybe people don’t feel as invested in them.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2025
  • Reilly also credits the transitory nature of many residents for making Iowa City so welcoming.
    Diana Lambdin Meyer, USA Today, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The benefits of being a statesman, analysts say, can be evanescent if domestic woes keep piling up.
    Mark Landler, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The benefits of being a statesman, analysts say, can be evanescent if domestic woes keep piling up.
    Mark Landler, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ephemeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemeral. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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