permanent 1 of 2

Definition of permanentnext

permanent

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective permanent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of permanent are durable, lasting, and stable. While all these words mean "enduring for so long as to seem fixed or established," permanent adds usually the implication of being designed or planned to stand or continue indefinitely.

permanent living arrangements

When is it sensible to use durable instead of permanent?

Although the words durable and permanent have much in common, durable implies power to resist destructive agencies.

durable fabrics

When would lasting be a good substitute for permanent?

The words lasting and permanent can be used in similar contexts, but lasting implies a capacity to continue indefinitely.

a book that left a lasting impression on me

When is stable a more appropriate choice than permanent?

The meanings of stable and permanent largely overlap; however, stable implies lastingness because of resistance to being overturned or displaced.

a stable government

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 permanent
Adjective
The wagyu smash burger, a Dubai cult hit, is now permanent, too. Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026 Also announced at the gala, a lead donation from Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch will launch the Horizon Fund — a permanent endowment for MCRI aimed at funding long-term children’s health research and future medical breakthroughs. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Noun
If hotness is an effort to make the ephemeral permanent, then illness is a constant reminder of how nothing is forever. Michelle Santiago Cortés, refinery29.com, 26 June 2021 There is always a temptation to make the temporary permanent, which is why the peace government must prioritize elections. Ashraf Ghani, Foreign Affairs, 4 May 2021 See All Example Sentences for permanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for permanent
Adjective
  • There’s a deeply observational quality to his songwriting, especially evident in the most nostalgic numbers here, that makes his eternal cheer feel well earned.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026
  • The Enhanced Games — or the ‘Doping Olympics’, as it has been christened — is the other way around, as the pseudo-sport comes first and then the serious business of selling muscles and eternal life to looksmaxxers and tech bros begins.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 23 May 2026
Noun
  • This time, my eyes slid to the fresh silver polish on her fingernails, her cascading perm thick but without any undergrowth, and those eyes darting from me to the cop, glistening as if on the verge of pouring.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Mar. 2026
  • For those wanting even more body, Destin says a modern perm can help add long-lasting texture to fine hair.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The film’s central figure is the world’s only immortal man, drawn into a romance with a Japanese scholar whose life’s work centers on ancient texts about dying.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026
  • Heracles discovered the Hydra's den in the Lernaean Swamps with the aid of the goddess Athena and was able to break or sever its many necks — while using fire to prevent them from growing back — until only a single immortal head remained.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Noun
  • The conk, the afro… and the jheri curl.
    Sonari Glinton, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
  • On the way to the conk pad, Mike runs over the f–ing show!
    Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 May 2026
  • Everything is more expensive because of an endless war and reckless tariffs.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • From the creators of the revenge dress and the revenge haircut comes…revenge eyeliner.
    Vanessa Santos, Glamour, 18 May 2026
  • The quarterback wound up with what looked like a really bad haircut.
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 16 May 2026
Adjective
  • Hidden in perpetual darkness, these craters remain colder than Pluto, with temperatures dipping to around minus 370 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 223 degrees Celsius).
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 19 May 2026
  • In 2020, the Murdochs donated $5 million to establish a perpetual fellowship supporting leading researchers in fields including stem cell technology and genomic precision medicine.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Noun
  • For the New York premiere of the biopic, Chalamet briefly went blonde, referencing Bob Dylan's hairstyle from the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.
    Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 20 May 2026
  • More than a few fans of all genders sported the blonde-and-brunette halo hairstyle Liu wears, and t-shirts with her face printed upon them were plentiful.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 18 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Permanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/permanent. Accessed 24 May. 2026.

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