transient

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word transient different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of transient are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When could ephemeral be used to replace transient?

The synonyms ephemeral and transient are sometimes interchangeable, but ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

Where would evanescent be a reasonable alternative to transient?

In some situations, the words evanescent and transient are roughly equivalent. However, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

How do fugitive and fleeting relate to one another, in the sense of transient?

Both fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face
fleeting moments of joy

In what contexts can momentary take the place of transient?

The words momentary and transient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

When might transitory be a better fit than transient?

The words transitory and transient can be used in similar contexts, but transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

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 transient
Adjective
The weak presence and transients drain the life from the performance. PC Magazine, 29 July 2025 Joseph Holland, a 58-year-old transient, was identified July 3, less than 24 hours after a graphic video was released publicly by San Diego County officials and carried on social media and local television news. Andrew J. Campa follow, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2025
Noun
The researchers hypothesized that the reason there are more organisms living on the warheads than around them is because living on a solid hard surface is more advantageous than more transient substrates – and, in doing so, the organisms had become more tolerant to toxins seeping from the weapons. New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2025 Neighborhoods with higher rates of ownership are often more stable, safer and see greater investment in beautification and sustainability projects than neighborhoods dominated by more transient renters. Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transient
Adjective
  • For scientists who track animal behavior, the eclipse provided the perfect natural experiment to see how birds react to temporary changes in light, something that is difficult to achieve in a laboratory setting.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
  • And yet these wins may be temporary—the Administration is pursuing appeals.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The drifter who confessed to killing an inventor and his wife was executed Tuesday night, more than three decades after the double murder in their Miami business.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
  • In any case, these are Beckett’s drifters, no doubt, right down to the aching feet and bad breath.
    Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • And many supermarkets offer bags of flash-frozen cranberries year-round.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • What To Know A map shared by the NWS on Facebook showed a broad corridor of flash-flood risk spanning the Western states and Southern Plains.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Arundhati Roy identifies as a vagrant.
    Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
  • Not long ago, vagrants stole my sister’s bikes.
    Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • There is a bus system (rides start at €2) that connects most of the major tourist sites in Palma, and a railway (round trip, €40) that brings passengers to some other sites, including Sollér.
    Emilio Parra Doiztua, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • When the second tourist arrived at the scene, he was also assaulted.
    Phillipe Vieira, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At the very end, his mother made a brief appearance to wrap up the routine.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The two most recently fought a brief conflict earlier this year.
    Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • He was placed on waivers and claimed by the Cubs in August 1958, setting off a vagabond career in the big leagues.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Strait is a veteran of the genre known for his vagabond anthems and sweet love songs.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Spirit has spent more than a year trying to offer travelers roomier seats and other fare packages beyond the cheap tickets and a la carte add-ons like seat selection and cabin baggage that it’s been known for for years.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025
  • United's four-times-weekly flights from Newark aim to connect American travelers with the cultural and coastal attractions of Puglia, including the region's iconic trulli dwellings.
    Ben Kelly, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Transient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transient. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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