temporary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē How to pronounce temporary (audio)
Definition of temporarynext
1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time summer workers looking for temporary accommodations in private homes

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flash
lasting only for a short time a temporary lapse of memory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in provisional
serving in a position for the time being the temporary head of the sales division

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

temporary

2 of 2

noun

as in temp

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Dissimilar Words

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 temporary
Adjective
Tickets cost €24 for adults who want access to all art shows, including the temporary exhibition. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 Programs such as the New Deal included not only temporary relief measures but foundational shifts in the social contract—Social Security, labor rights and infrastructure—that reshaped American society. — Stewart McLaurin, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, large areas of farmland were treated similarly, and contaminated topsoil was removed and stored in temporary as well as long-term facilities. — Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 California voters will have to approve the temporary in a special election in November. — Terry Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for temporary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporary
  1. interim
  2. flash
  3. provisional
  4. temp
  5. short-term
  6. brief
  7. associate
  8. transient
Adjective
  • Its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qa’eda militant who led the rebel offensive that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been struggling to rebuild a nation devastated by almost 14 years of civil war.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The deal comes eight months after Washington ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a military raid and co-opted the remaining regime led by interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of interim
Adjective
  • Saturday's flash-flood event occurred after four rounds of rain swept across parts of the Grand Canyon over a span of about six hours, according to the National Weather Service.
    — Trevor Ault, ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Missing hiker tip line The National Park Service is asking the public to provide information about 15 missing people after a significant flash-flood event in Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of flash
Adjective
  • Later, as the leading drivers prepared for their final Q3 runs, the provisional top three were Russell, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri and Gasly.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • South Africa’s case accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention remains pending before the International Court of Justice, which has issued several provisional measures but has not ruled on the merits.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of provisional
Noun
  • Garnishes come on the side so that a room-temp lemon peel or olive won’t ruin the chill.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 29 Aug. 2026
  • By Sunday, Los Angeles will return to the 80s for high temps and Phoenix will cool down to its normal high temp for this time of year around 105.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of temp
Adjective
  • The surprise increase in hiring last month could give the central bank’s policymakers leeway to raise the Fed’s benchmark short-term interest rate to fight inflation at their next policy meeting in less than two weeks.
    — Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • By removing settlement lag, companies can free up cash trapped in transit, effectively lowering the overall cost of capital and short-term borrowing needs.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of short-term
Adjective
  • Robinson has history with quarterback Baker Mayfield from their brief overlap with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.
    — Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Organizers have said there will be more than 50 speakers or presentations each night, with many of the remarks kept brief to keep the pace fast for viewers and easy to share online.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of brief
Noun
  • Valerie Ramey, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford and a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, said Trump’s policy proposal would likely lead to even higher inflation and interest rates.
    — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Hatch had a job processing customer returns in a Lancaster fulfillment center, while Parks was a delivery associate at an Amazon delivery station in Rochester.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of associate
Adjective
  • There is virtually no downside to the injection apart from the transient pain of the needle, and the upside is tremendous.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Summary The 2018 Sears bankruptcy underscored retail's transient nature, a lesson Jeff Bezos and former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon also emphasize.
    — Jason Goldberg, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of transient

Browse Nearby Words

temporariness
temporary
temporize
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Cite this Entry

“Temporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporary. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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