Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of evanescent are ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

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

Where would ephemeral be a reasonable alternative to evanescent?

The words ephemeral and evanescent can be used in similar contexts, but ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

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

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 is it sensible to use momentary instead of evanescent?

In some situations, the words momentary and evanescent are roughly equivalent. However, 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 evanescent?

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

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When is transitory a more appropriate choice than evanescent?

The words transitory and evanescent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 evanescent Or something perhaps deeper and more difficult but not quite so evanescent? Attendance declines have made this question more urgent. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2023 More often, though, the new songs are evanescent. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2022 On the plus side are our memories, which elevate the evanescent pleasure of the meal to the longer-term reward of enjoyment. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2022 Still another is for people and institutions to realize that cancellation mobs are often powerless and evanescent (and unmerited), a fearsome tide from far off that recedes to nothing closer to shore, and simply wait them out before acting rashly. Jack Butler, National Review, 26 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for evanescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for evanescent
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
  • Here is just a brief sampling: Evan Phillips: Out for the season.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Will Reeve, son of the late Christopher Reeve, one of the more famous Hollywood Men of Steel, makes a brief appearance in Superman.
    EW.com, EW.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • And a year and a half later, so says Manhattan Federal Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who has now issued a temporary restraining order preventing the implementation of the well-meaning, but misguided law.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025
  • Save any receipts for building materials, cleanup supplies, temporary housing, replacement costs for clothing and home goods, and food costs. File a claim with FEMA Kerr County residents can start making those claims because that area has been declared a federal disaster area.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 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
  • With each passing year, the evidence mounts that 2005 was more good fortune than anything else.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • With every passing year, evidence can get lost, witnesses can die, memories can fade.
    Dateline NBC, NBC news, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Key for energy stocks has been a drop in crude prices, despite a fleeting uptick in June as conflict in the Middle East dominated headlines.
    Matt Ward-Perkins, CNBC, 14 July 2025
  • The coordination involved in creating this disposable party favor, for the fleeting delight of millionaires, was just one of a thousand details that Vanity Fair devoted to each year’s extravaganza.
    Michael Grynbaum, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • As last week’s debate on the sprawling GOP budget bill demonstrated, the two parties have refused to downsize their legislative ambitions to these systematically smaller and more ephemeral majorities.
    Ronald Brownstein, Twin Cities, 10 July 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, Wired News, 6 July 2025
Adjective
  • Poignant visual metaphors for mortality and the transitory power of the cinematic image abound.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Evanescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evanescent. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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