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

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 fleeting Brandi Carlile begins her new album with a verse raising the issue of mortality, and the question of what a godly design for these fleeting lives might be, if any at all. Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025 Bullets cut the air, sharp and fleeting, as exhaustion and conviction blur into violence. Jp Mangalindan, Time, 24 Oct. 2025 There are several other fleeting beauty-centric moments throughout the season. Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 24 Oct. 2025 The attendance bounce that Super Mario and company gave Universal Studios Hollywood with the opening of Super Nintendo World evaporated like a fleeting high score in a video game as the movie theme park suffered an agonizing loss in the latest industry rankings. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fleeting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting
Adjective
  • And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • After a brief struggle for traction, the robot regained control by crouching slightly, mimicking a human posture to exert force.
    Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025
  • But the music industry can be particularly cruel to sexy women, their shelf life being brief.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Holiday shipping increases have gone into effect, with temporary increases expected to last until early January.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The sudden increase from last week appears to be a result of a Midwest refinery outage that prompted a temporary evacuation of the BP plant in Whiting, Indiana, but is now over, and the jump at the pump may turn out to be more of a spike than an upward trend.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Chelsea shared on her Instagram Stories that the toddler had developed transient synovitis from a viral infection.
    Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Using fractional diffusion theory, the research deepens understanding of transient charging behaviors in complex materials, which is key to designing high-performance components used for advanced engineering electrochemical systems in general.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Some duties will fall on Gonzales, but the passing game will funnel through quarterback coach Ryan O’Hara, not offensive coordinator Russ Callaway.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The Philadelphia Eagles' offense definitely appeared to right the ship against the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday, at least as far as the passing game was concerned.
    Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The White House says American consumer strain will be transitory.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • This is not a brand that’s transitory.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Leaning into the character’s ephemeral quality, Hawley integrated Elizabeth’s interest in insects through color, textural details and accessories.
    Kristen Tauer, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The story captures the dilemma between the ephemeral and the eternal inherent in any attempt to pin down the soul.
    David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Conservative social media turned into a momentary battle of the Megs.
    Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Although only five minutes in length, The Magic Lantern gives us a momentary glimpse of the magic of cinema as a burgeoning medium and the inchoate experimentation that accompanied its first decades as a studio invention.
    Erik Morse, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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