Synonyms of fleeting

fleeting

adjective

ˈflē-tiŋ 

as in flash

lasting only for a short time

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• flash
• brief
• temporary
• transient
• passing
• transitory
• ephemeral
• momentary
• evanescent
• short
• little
• deciduous
• short-lived
• fugacious
• fugitive
• impermanent
• short-term
• acting
• interim
• provisional
• shortish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permanent
• lasting
• eternal
• enduring
• everlasting
• endless
• timeless
• unending
• perpetual
• immortal
• deathless
• undying
• ceaseless
• lifelong
• persistent
• long-lived
• durable
• dateless
• continuing
• indestructible
• imperishable
• indefectible

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of fleeting are ephemeral, evanescent, fugitive, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face

fleeting moments of joy

In what contexts can ephemeral take the place of fleeting?

The words ephemeral and fleeting are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

Where would evanescent be a reasonable alternative to fleeting?

While the synonyms evanescent and fleeting are close in meaning, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

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

When is it sensible to use momentary instead of fleeting?

The synonyms momentary and fleeting are sometimes interchangeable, 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

When might transient be a better fit than fleeting?

The meanings of transient and fleeting largely overlap; however, 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 fleeting?

The words transitory and fleeting can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Recent Examples of fleeting

Over the decades, Ernaux has examined class shame through close observation of her parents’ lives, accounted for all-consuming romantic obsession, and transcribed fleeting encounters in supermarkets and trains in the Paris suburbs. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2026

But pieces from those fleeting years, like the rain boots and their memories, move forward with us. — Stephanie Cook Broadhurst, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2026

Time is one of Butler’s preoccupations—its fleeting nature, its nonlinear experience, its rubberbanding effect on our perception. — Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

This time, master perfumer Dominique Ropion and perfumer Meabh McCurtin set out to create a classic, enduring fragrance, steering clear of fleeting trends—an approach consistent with Merit’s philosophy for Retrospect. — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026