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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Webb filed a lawsuit against the NCAA this week, asking for a temporary restraining order granting one last year of college eligibility. — Pj Green july 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 The facility was required to close until the water could be restored or temporary restrooms provided for employees. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 July 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
  • Two weeks after Kowalski's retirement, interim Police Chief Ken Myers demoted everyone involved.
    — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Graham is serving in an interim role to fulfill her brother's current term.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of interim
Adjective
  • Parts of Connecticut and New York, including the Albany area, remained under flash-flood warnings on Wednesday morning.
    — Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Slow-moving storms may pose flash-flood risks across large portions of North, West, Central, South and East Texas beginning on Sunday, June 12, with the main threats expected early to mid-week.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026
Definition of flash
Adjective
  • An Omani delegation was reportedly in Tehran on Friday and Saturday in efforts to negotiate a provisional arrangement to manage the transit of shipping through the waterway.
    — Mike Sheen,Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 27 July 2026
  • The research team already filed a provisional patent application and has moved on to prototype testing.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
Definition of provisional
Noun
  • Mark told me that on Friday his temp was 103 and his O2 sat was in the 80s.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • Fresno’s highest temp so far, for reference, was 105 degrees on July 15 two weeks ago.
    — Sean Macaday July 27, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of temp
Adjective
  • Over the next few months, expect short-term implementation via executive orders, including classified benchmarking and testing.
    — Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • This is all about the effects, long-term and short-term, of a violent sport.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of short-term
Adjective
  • Project Glasswing gave a perception that defenders would have a brief window to strengthen their defenses before the offensive capabilities of Mythos or equivalent models were available to the public.
    — Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Supporters only caught a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026
Definition of brief
Noun
  • Washington went back to earn an associate's degree, then a second bachelor's degree and now has a good job in IT.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 30 July 2026
  • Another person dead at the scene, 19-year-old Junior Cee Niko-Semo, is believed to be an associate of the 15-year-old and involved in the incident, police said.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 July 2026
Definition of associate
Adjective
  • These facilities can support fuel qualification, materials testing, transient behavior studies, and other technical work needed before a first-of-a-kind reactor can enter service.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Unionization is challenging with a large, disparate and transient group of athletes.
    — Justin Williams, New York Times, 31 July 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 2 Aug. 2026.

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