Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of momentary are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," 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 ephemeral be a better fit than momentary?

Although the words ephemeral and momentary have much in common, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When would evanescent be a good substitute for momentary?

In some situations, the words evanescent and momentary are roughly equivalent. However, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

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

How are the words fugitive and fleeting related as synonyms of momentary?

Both fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy

Where would transient be a reasonable alternative to momentary?

The synonyms transient and momentary are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 momentary?

The words transitory and momentary 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 momentary Lena deserved to be more than momentary cannon fodder. ArsTechnica, 10 June 2025 Then, a momentary explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang grenade sends smoke floating through the street. Alina Selyukh, NPR, 31 May 2025 Clients and stakeholders recognize when your ideas are grounded in ongoing work and reflection, not just momentary marketing. Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 The deal marks a momentary retreat for President Donald Trump, who had defended his steep tariffs on Chinese imports as critical to rejuvenate domestic manufacturing in the United States, even as the moves rattled global markets and stoked economic anxieties among Americans. USA Today, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for momentary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for momentary
Adjective
  • Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • Sadly, the wheels (or should that be legs?) all come off in that final act, as the film limps towards its conclusion via a brief stay in Harlan Ogilvy (Robbins)' basement.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 June 2025
  • Some suggestions seem easy and inexpensive to implement — encouraging law enforcement officers to issue a civil citation for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, an alternative to an arrest that requires a jail booking and often only a brief stay behind bars for the offender.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • Launched in 2016, The New European was intended to be a four-edition pop-up newspaper - a temporary exercise aimed at putting the pro-EU case and lobbying for a second referendum.
    Trevor Clawson, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • The new cutoff date is now September 17, giving users temporary relief from a looming ban.
    Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Compared to an initial version of the budgets presented to City Council members in May, the ones that were adopted include an additional $194,000 and $160,000 in transient occupancy tax revenue for 2026 and 2027, respectively.
    Luke Harold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 June 2025
  • What explosive and transient events occur in the universe?
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yet, over the passing weeks, no one surfaced looking for the small pup.
    Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 10 May 2025
  • According to Ben Taylor’s Passer Rating metric, this past season was the best passing year of Robinson’s career – grading as a respectable 5.3 out of 10 (53rd percentile).
    Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • Other main themes that guests can find in Guidi’s work are the relationship between space and light, between the solidity of architecture and the fleeting nature of the instant, between urban space and individual perception, between material traces and memory.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • To choose security over a passion that may be fleeting? Much of the humor in the film flows from Lucy’s cynicism about life and love.
    Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Momentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/momentary. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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