SHORT LIVED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlivd

Definition of short-lived

as in brief

lasting only for a short time the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time

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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 short-lived As such, its role in the election was short-lived, and the Central Election Commission soon reversed its decision. — Regina Smyth, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026 Godwit parents brood their chicks, alert them to danger, lead them to hiding places, and (in a dramatic and short-lived personality shift) aggressively squawk at and harry their potential predators. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 In fact, even though demonstrators in Bahrain were among the most adept at using these new platforms, their rebellion was the most short-lived. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026 Juniper Unlimited before it (which Burke was on board with) was also short-lived after its financial backer, Global Brands Group (GBG), collapsed. — Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short-lived

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-lived

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

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

Mnemosyne tries to cheer him up by pointing out that the poet can show the permanent and divine in what is apparently transient and mortal.

— Max Norman, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
According to the company, its grid-forming control strategy can maintain stable operation across an SCR range of 1 to 40, while also helping mitigate transient overvoltage.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of transient

Adjective

Maryland’s reliance on the passing game could pose problems for a secondary that was picked apart by Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne last week and is still without free safety Tao Johnson.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Gaines has 234 yards and two touchdowns on 45 carries, as well as 58 yards and a touchdown in the passing game.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of passing

Adjective

Interestingly, a fleeting scene of Noah leaning on his teammates becomes a tragic mirror to Hal never having been able to do so (as a kid or as a Lantern) and John never getting along with his brothers.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
The rule change allowed SpaceX, which passed a $2 trillion valuation on its first day of trading, to join the Nasdaq 100 in a fleeting 15 days.

— Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of fleeting

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

Browse Nearby Words

shortish

short-lived

shortly

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“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-lived. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-lived

adjective

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