Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

fleeting

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of fleeting

lasting only for a short time

  • had a fleeting desire to jump into the cool lake but kept on hiking
Synonyms of fleeting

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

little, short, shortish

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

lifelong

continuing, durable, persistent

imperishable, indefectible, indestructible
Antonyms of fleeting

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

Synonym Discussion of fleeting

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 fleeting

  1. See words that rhyme with fleeting Dictionary: Definition of fleeting Spanish Central: Translation of fleeting Nglish: Translation of fleeting for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of fleeting for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

WORD OF THE DAY

exculpate

to clear from alleged fault or guilt

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. gaslight It is a word, though.

  2. invasion CNN reporter questions President.

  3. relevancy Ariana Grande slams ex-fiancé.

SEE ALL

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