impermanent

adjective

(ˌ)im-ˈpər-mə-nənt How to pronounce impermanent (audio)
Definition of impermanentnext
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

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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 Several—Forti and Smith among them—were performance artists, whose impermanent work is notoriously difficult to sell. — News Desk, Artforum, 27 Apr. 2026 Time is impermanent, but timelessness can be built, swish by swish. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2026 But public art is impermanent by design; posters may last months or disappear within hours. — Yamlek Mojica, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026 And executive orders are famously impermanent. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanent
  1. temporary
  2. flash
  3. interim
  4. brief
  5. transient
  6. transitory
  7. ephemeral
  8. passing
Adjective
  • Kelly threw cold water on that argument in his ruling last week granting the temporary restraining order against the White House ban.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Days later, his mother, Teresita Lavandeira, filed for temporary custody of Mario, 13; Mia, 11; and Mayte, 8.
    — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of temporary
Adjective
  • On Monday, the flash-flood threat is lower, but locally heavy downpours are possible for parts of the Mid-Atlantic later in the day.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Cronan, however, dismissed other claims, including those tied to Burgess’ flash-drive allegations.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of flash
Adjective
  • ConnCAT had already announced that a member of the ConnCORP board, Malcolm Ellis, would serve as its interim director as the search for a permanent leader gets underway.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Longtime city employee Megan Van Voorhis was appointed to fill Dignan’s position on an interim basis.
    — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of interim
Adjective
  • The drug induces a powerful loss of personal identity and a brief but total dissolution of time and space.
    — Ryan Sullivan, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Getting over this final hurdle comes after months of delays, including the major antitrust lawsuit from a coalition of 12 states, and even a Hail Mary last ditch amicus brief from a grassroots coalition that sought to block the merger entirely.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Davis, West Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County already charge a 12% transient occupancy tax, and Measure X would bring Yolo County’s rate in line with those jurisdictions.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Fugue states are a precursor to the breakdown of memory; Simon’s agent begins experiencing episodes of a condition called transient global amnesia.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of transient
Adjective
  • Since his confirmation earlier this year, the central bank has split further on whether inflation is truly transitory; last month’s decision to keep rates steady resulted in the most dissents since 1970.
    — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That all prices – high and low – are transitory is tautological.
    — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of transitory
Adjective
  • The Leipzig scenes are both ephemeral and integral; later, Taro will speculate that if the Germans had had the same revolutionary zeal as the Spanish, Hitler might have been defeated.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Viral memes and videos are often good for only ephemeral dopamine hits, but leave the elixir to the humor and talent of the Gregory Brothers, a longtime musical quartet.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of ephemeral
Adjective
  • Right now, Cousins is tied with San Francisco 49ers QB Brock Purdy for the most passing touchdowns this season.
    — Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Their passing game, statistically, is miles ahead of the rest of the league.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of passing

Browse Nearby Words

impermanency
impermanent
impermeable
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Cite this Entry

“Impermanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanent. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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