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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Recent Examples of short-lived
But the honeymoon period is, as always, short-lived.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Some perennials are very long-lived, such as the peony, daylily, and false indigo, while others are relatively short-lived, such as the lupine, columbine, and delphinium.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
This easy biennial or short-lived perennial (USDA Zones 3 to 8 or 9 depending on the species) is a beacon for butterflies in the summer garden.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The breathless approach taken by Mauricio Pochettino made way for the pragmatism of Jose Mourinho, while a low-block-and-counter-attack approach was short-lived under Nuno Espirito Santo.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-lived
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Some perennials are very long-lived, such as the peony, daylily, and false indigo, while others are relatively short-lived, such as the lupine, columbine, and delphinium.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 15 Feb. 2026
This easy biennial or short-lived perennial (USDA Zones 3 to 8 or 9 depending on the species) is a beacon for butterflies in the summer garden.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026
The breathless approach taken by Mauricio Pochettino made way for the pragmatism of Jose Mourinho, while a low-block-and-counter-attack approach was short-lived under Nuno Espirito Santo.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for short-lived
Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-lived
Adjective
-
Buehler struggled in Boston, but looked good enough during his brief time with the Phillies to generate interest from the Padres and other teams.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
As the Iranian government faces one of the most difficult moments in its brief existence – both internally and externally—the question now, as the US sends a second aircraft carrier to the region is will this time be different?—
Alexander Langlois,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Paniotto said that most Ukrainians oppose holding elections – not only during the war, but even during any kind of temporary ceasefire.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
That turned into a seismic moment in British history, leading to Charles’ beheading and the temporary abolition of the monarchy.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Broccoli and Cauliflower Hearty bite-sized florets of broccoli and cauliflower are typically flash-frozen soon after harvest and maintain their crisp-tender texture when cooked from frozen.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Both the United Kingdom and Japan are growing at least as quickly as the U.S., according to January's flash PMI surveys.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The National Park Service says the number of deaths in these avalanches is inconsistent due to the transient nature of stampeders.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Shawnee will return to the transient guest tax at a later date in order to add specific language on short-term rentals within the city’s ordinance.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Deep in the coastal mountains above the sparkling Pacific resort of Mazatlán, towns spaced along a twisting road appear nearly deserted, the quiet broken only by the occasional passing truck.—
Aarón Ibarra,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Deep in the coastal mountains above the sparkling Pacific resort of Mazatlan, towns spaced along a twisting road appear nearly deserted, the quiet broken only by the occasional passing truck.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The Claviculars of the world are outliers, sideshow performers, which helps explain their (often fleeting) popularity.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Feb. 2026
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Shot in high-contrast black and white with obsessive attention to design, the film traces the unavoidable costs imposed on a family for the fleeting brush with artistic transcendence, however sporadic.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pop music is ephemeral by nature.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Its only real beach is an ephemeral strand that appears seasonally, if luck will have it.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-lived. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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