1
as in temporary
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
built an impermanent structure to serve for the archaeologists' living quarters during the dig
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flash
lasting only for a short time
a summer romance that was an impermanent fancy, quickly forgotten
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 impermanent
These impermanent fixtures are also a good way to test the waters and see if a more comprehensive renovation is something a homeowner desires for the future.
—
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
Many Americans have entered into a vicious consumption cycle: responding to future financial hopelessness by consuming impermanent wealth signifiers, thus robbing their financial futures.
—Maggie Anders, Oc Register, 29 July 2025
State officials have said the detention facility, which has been described as temporary, will rely on heavy-duty tents, trailers, and other impermanent buildings, allowing the state to operationalize 5,000 immigration detention beds by early July and free up space in local jails.
—Kate Payne, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
There is the notion of light, which for me—coming from Bangladesh and being in a pavilion and in our context—the form is a nod to the shamas (lightweight, impermanent canopy structures).
—Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025
Many Americans have entered into a vicious consumption cycle: responding to future financial hopelessness by consuming impermanent wealth signifiers, thus robbing their financial futures.
—Maggie Anders, Oc Register, 29 July 2025
State officials have said the detention facility, which has been described as temporary, will rely on heavy-duty tents, trailers, and other impermanent buildings, allowing the state to operationalize 5,000 immigration detention beds by early July and free up space in local jails.
—Kate Payne, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2025
There is the notion of light, which for me—coming from Bangladesh and being in a pavilion and in our context—the form is a nod to the shamas (lightweight, impermanent canopy structures).
—Nargess Banks, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanent
Adjective
-
The forthcoming Olympics in Los Angeles will only use existing or temporary stadiums, in the hope of minimizing the environmental impact of new construction.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
-
While the temporary jail facility will not be subject to the city ordinance requiring the standard, the permanent facility that is also planned will be.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Beere began serving as the interim chief in November, following Chief Floyd Mitchell’s abrupt resignation weeks earlier.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In moving Baker to the budget office, Levine Cava also named Lydia Lopez, an assistant library director, as his interim replacement.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After a brief interlude outside for community members to reconnect, the pews filled up again.—
Camelia Heins,
Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The trailer shows Damon as Odysseus and brief glimpses at his life during the Trojan War (including the iconic Trojan Horse) and his years-long journey back to his homeland.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Perez, a 63-year-old transient man, was convicted of the child murders from 1992 through 2001 throughout Central and Northern California, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced in a news release.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The exact reason why the rearview camera image won't display is unknown, but transient signal noise between the control unit and cameras can interrupt the signal, states the NHTSA report.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Modernity is the transitory, the fugitive, the contingent, that half of art of which the other is the eternal and immutable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Dec. 2025
-
But just like a gardener would never declare their perennials dead just because January looks bleak, good investor behavior recognizes that winter is always transitory.—
Steve Booren,
Denver Post,
21 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
But Anna Dorn has a knack for finding characters and relationships that offer a path through these strange and ephemeral moments, in particular in her 2022 novel Exalted, a very funny examination of astrology and social media.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Jan. 2026
-
There are a few million viewers of the late night shows on air and the next day online, sure, but perhaps what is making late night remain relevant for the likes of Swift and the other A-listers who drop by weekly is something more ephemeral.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
19 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Quarterback Bryce Young now owns the single-game franchise record for most passing yards.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
-
But where the Rams have really put opposing defenses in a bind has been using 13-personnel to open up the passing game.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Impermanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanent. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share