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
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
Pushed to the margins, people of African descent maintained burial traditions and used impermanent or specific grave markers such as shells, bottles, clocks or ceramics – items that were culturally meaningful but often invisible or unimportant to white observers.
—
Joanna Gilmore,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2025
Absent from BringFido’s list are the three ballparks with the smallest capacities (excluding impermanent sites such as Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, currently home to the Athletics): Cleveland’s Progressive Field (34,830), Miami’s LoanDepot Park (36,742) and Fenway Park (37,775).
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Yamlek Mojica,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
And executive orders are famously impermanent.
—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Pushed to the margins, people of African descent maintained burial traditions and used impermanent or specific grave markers such as shells, bottles, clocks or ceramics – items that were culturally meaningful but often invisible or unimportant to white observers.
—
Joanna Gilmore,
The Conversation,
29 Oct. 2025
Absent from BringFido’s list are the three ballparks with the smallest capacities (excluding impermanent sites such as Sacramento’s Sutter Health Park, currently home to the Athletics): Cleveland’s Progressive Field (34,830), Miami’s LoanDepot Park (36,742) and Fenway Park (37,775).
—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanent
Adjective
-
But economists say the fix and revenue increase are likely only temporary.
-
In the city of Catia La Mar, people can be seen living outside, with temporary structures set up on a baseball field.
Adjective
-
In fact, the weather service said that more than 50% of flash-flood deaths happen in vehicles driven into floodwaters.
-
Don’t miss Alcopop’s Black Mango Watermelon, Seongju Chamoe and Watermelon Ice Pop; Matcha Latte, with flash-frozen local herbs and a hand-cut ice diamond; and Journey, a concoction that maps a tomato’s global odyssey.
Adjective
-
Trump made the threat on Sunday, even as Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland for the first talks under the interim accord.
-
Assistant Leif Gunnar Smerud was named interim coach while the team searches for Straus’ replacement.
Adjective
-
For a team that began the season with off days coming at a premium, a brief stretch with two open dates is a respite from the wear and tear of a long season.
-
So far, operations have run relatively smooth, save for a brief power outage that led to a pretzel shortage.
Adjective
-
In a city celebrated for artworks that have survived for centuries, this installation was very nearly too transient.
-
The true horizon of value creation requires a longer-term play—one that prioritizes physical AI and hardware-heavy infrastructure over the transient cycles of digital-only applications.
Adjective
-
Yet even after the events have ended, the economic boost from the World Cup, Super Bowl and March Madness might wind up being only transitory.
-
Christopher Thornberg, founding partner at Beacon Economics, believes the higher inflation numbers are a transitory (temporary) shock, and not a sustained one.
Adjective
-
An ephemeral encryption key is created during each system start and isn’t accessible by software.
-
To ensure that peonies bloom to their full potential, here are peony expert recommendations for fertilizing peonies, as well as other tips to extend the blooming season of these gorgeous yet ephemeral flowers.
Adjective
-
The Krewe of Gemini, a Mardi Gras organization in the Shreveport-Bossier community of which Watson, his wife and one of their daughters were members, also mourned his passing Wednesday.
-
Moore was a consistent presence for Young in the passing game during OTAs with McMillan (foot) sidelined.
Cite this Entry
“Impermanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanent. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
