as in flash
lasting only for a short time
beauty that is as evanescent as a rainbow
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Recent Examples of evanescent
Sketches and blackouts are often evanescent, like an idea sketched on a cocktail napkin; some last only a few seconds yet might have been fiendishly complicated to prepare and execute.
—
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
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
More often, though, the new songs are evanescent.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 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
Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
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
More often, though, the new songs are evanescent.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 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
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What To Know A map shared by the NWS on Facebook showed a broad corridor of flash-flood risk spanning the Western states and Southern Plains.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
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The emerging miners, exposed directly to the flash during its first split second, were covered in flash-absorbing black.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Rolling Stone,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The speech marked the foundation of an independent Vietnam after nearly a century of French colonial rule and a brief Japanese occupation during World War II, but the French did not recognise the new country and fought a decade-long war, which ended with their defeat in 1954.—
Phuong Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
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In brief, the basic issue is the Second Amendment in a secular country.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, also introduced temporary flight restrictions at the airport in the early hours of Tuesday.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Dairy farming requires consistent labor throughout the year to care for animals and maintain production, and the H-2A program is designed only for temporary or seasonal work during workforce shortages.—
Dan Gooding
Billal Rahman
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Few of the permanent employees expected to fill 8,500 slots have been hired, and the bulk of the current workforce is transient – single men on temporary visas or contracts, rotating through for months at a time.—
Dalia Faheid,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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No notice, just like when the city added several dollars in transient occupancy taxes to every guest bill with virtually no notice on May 1.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Initially, Ugarte is marked by Kevin De Bruyne, but once Mazraoui plays the ball to Mainoo, the Uruguay midfielder adjusts his position to be a passing option.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Allen threw for 3,731 yards with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions while rushing for 12 scores and 531 yards, so Jackson had more passing yards and touchdowns than the Bills QB.—
Matt Wadleigh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But without the right cultural conditions, even the best ideas may remain just a fleeting comment once mentioned by the water cooler.—
IESE Business School,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The potential reunion was fleeting, however, after Marr left to Mexico to tour with the Cribs.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Stage acting is the most ephemeral of the classical performing arts.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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For the new generation of creatives immersed in a world that rushes forward and often rewards the ephemeral, Armani remains a solid point of reference.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Since Rahm Emanuel left office after two terms as Chicago mayor, this city has grown the size of its government even as its leaders knew federal aid was transitory and the exorbitant bill to shore up Chicago’s underfunded pensions only would grow for the foreseeable future.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Aug. 2025
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Shortly after Air France Flight 447 left Rio De Janeiro for Paris, the plane’s airspeed sensors froze over—a relatively routine, transitory instrument loss due to high-altitude icing.—
David Autor,
The Atlantic,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Evanescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evanescent. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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