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
  • Even with the temporary pause, abrupt policy changes have left some business owners tapping into personal savings, postponing expansions and in some cases, closing altogether.
    Ana Valdez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • On June 23, the Thai military ordered all permanent and temporary land border checkpoints between Thailand and Cambodia to close.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, Carney addressed questions about the breakdown in talks.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 June 2025
  • Some suggestions seem easy and inexpensive to implement — encouraging law enforcement officers to issue a civil citation for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, an alternative to an arrest that requires a jail booking and often only a brief stay behind bars for the offender.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • And while Riemens had a transient lifestyle and was planning a trip to visit family in Michigan just before his disappearance, finding his truck at a nearby store quickly cast suspicion.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Spring Hill has the lowest transient guest rate in Johnson County at 4%.
    Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • That point in time was also fleeting — women’s labor force participation climbed steadily from the late 1940s, peaking at 60 percent in 1999 before dropping slightly.
    Anna North, Vox, 26 June 2025
  • The drawings, which range from portraits and still lifes to urban landscapes and fleeting moments, reflect Dylan’s sharp observational eye.
    Anna Tingley, Variety, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yet, over the passing weeks, no one surfaced looking for the small pup.
    Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • 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
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 13 Jul. 2025.

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