1
as in interim
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
summer workers looking for temporary accommodations in private homes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in temp
Related Words
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
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Those wins over Villa and Real Madrid only provided some temporary respite from the array of issues dogging the champions.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Vance Ginn, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
After removing the temporaries, Dr. Apa slid in my new veneers, which were then bonded to my current teeth's enamel.
—Kassidy Silva, Allure, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for temporary
Adjective
The House has been out of session since mid-September, when Republicans' temporary government funding measure passed nearly along party lines.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Those wins over Villa and Real Madrid only provided some temporary respite from the array of issues dogging the champions.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
While this approach seems reasonable, its tradeoffs necessitate SNAP reforms that balance keeping this costly program temporary for recipients while supporting their agency and choice for long-term self-sufficiency.
—Vance Ginn, National Review, 11 Mar. 2024
After removing the temporaries, Dr. Apa slid in my new veneers, which were then bonded to my current teeth's enamel.
—Kassidy Silva, Allure, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for temporary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporary
Adjective
-
In October 2024, Chinese warships visited Chittagong—the first foreign naval vessels to do so after the establishment of the interim Bangladeshi government—signaling a major geopolitical shift.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Al-Sharaa led the rebel forces that toppled former Syrian President Bashar Assad last December and was named the country's interim leader in January.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Campaign ads, showing images of flash-mob robberies, promised voters that harsher penalties would put an end to basic items being locked away in display cases and funnel people repeatedly arrested for drug offenses in treatment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.—
Cathy Thomas,
Oc Register,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, the job of being a professor became more tenuous and provisional—some 75 percent of faculty are nontenured, many working term to term, with the fate of their employment determined, in part, by student course evaluations.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
-
At polling places that remained closed, voters were sent to other sits to pick up provisional ballots.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Changing temp and time is a breeze.—
Joe Salas
October 29,
New Atlas,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Place three cups of lukewarm or room temp water into your pot.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The outcome offered further evidence that prioritizing short-term stability over democratic values and accountable governance can invite long-term reversals, a trend that Washington and New Delhi would do well to reckon with.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Once approved, the short-term deal will provide immediate financial relief for about 700,000 federal workers who have been furloughed or on the job without pay for more than a month.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The peace declaration included a commitment to withdraw heavy weapons from the border, de-mining efforts, and to de-escalate tensions that erupted into the brief but deadly border conflict.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
An earlier, brief ceasefire between Pakistan and the TTP, brokered by Kabul in 2022, collapsed later after the group accused Islamabad of violating it.—
NPR,
NPR,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The associate’s narrative was that Lucas met Sainz, the former State Department official, at a conference and invited Schiller, who lived in South Florida, to a meeting in Miami about humanitarian aid to Venezuela.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
While associate degree holders only spend 9 percent of their extra earnings on loans, bachelor’s degree holders spent 19 percent.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The hotel generates between $150,000 and $200,000 annually in transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenue that will be lost after the conversion.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Stargazers interested in creating a lasting view of the transient visitors to Earth's sky should check out our guide to observing and photographing comets, along with our roundups of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography in 2025.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Temporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporary. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share