Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

evanescent

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of evanescent

lasting only for a short time
  • beauty that is as evanescent as a rainbow
Synonyms of evanescent

brief, ephemeral, flash, fleeting, fugitive, impermanent, momentary, passing, short-lived, temporary, transient, transitory
Words Related to evanescent

little, short, shortish

acting, interim, provisional, short-term
Near Antonyms of evanescent

lifelong

continuing, durable, persistent

imperishable, indefectible, indestructible
Antonyms of evanescent

ceaseless, dateless, deathless, endless, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, lasting, long-lived, permanent, perpetual, timeless, undying, unending

Synonym Discussion of evanescent

transient, transitory, ephemeral, momentary, fugitive, fleeting, evanescent mean lasting or staying only a short time. transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.
    • a hotel catering primarily to transient guests
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
ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.
    • many slang words are ephemeral
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
fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.
    • let a fugitive smile flit across his face
    • fleeting moments of joy
evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.
    • the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Learn More about evanescent

  1. See words that rhyme with evanescent Dictionary: Definition of evanescent Medical Dictionary: Definition of evanescent Nglish: Translation of evanescent for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up evanescent? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games