transient

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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
In a fresh twist, the discovery marks the first time powerful X-rays have been associated with an object that might be a long-period transient. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 In 2022, astronomers discovered a type of object known as a long-period transient, which, like ASKAP J1832, sends out flashes of radio waves on the order of tens of minutes. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 May 2025
Noun
And so happiness by nature is meant to be transient. Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025 The Pacific Northwest has long had some of the highest cremation rates in the country, in part because its residents tend to be less religious and more transient. Susan Shain, New York Times, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for transient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transient
Adjective
  • There’s talk of a temporary platform for trains that already pass by to stop.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
  • The Strong Families program offers temporary safe homes for children while their parents work through short-term difficulties, helping prevent the need for child welfare intervention.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • The title is a reference to Samuel Beckett’s classic play about a pair of drifters stuck waiting for a visitor who never shows, while his blend of fact and fiction takes a page from Gonzo classics like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
    Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
  • She is guided on her way by Boyce (Dave Bautista), a drifter who is one of few able to navigate the Lost Lands.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.
    Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • The population at South Korea’s vagrant facilities peaked in the 1980s as the then-military government intensified roundups to beautify streets ahead of the 1986 Asian Games and the 1988 Olympic Games held in Seoul.
    Kim Tong-Hyung, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2024
  • While the policy is intended to protect homeless individuals from discrimination, some say its unintended consequences will only perpetuate the crisis and safeguard vagrants from prosecution.
    Tim Clouser | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • As the Kansas City region prepares to welcome – and house – thousands of tourists for the 2026 World Cup, tax guidelines for short-term rental properties across Jackson County are temporarily changing in property owners’ favor.
    Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2025
  • When Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) tries to shut down the beloved beach that brings thousands of tourists to the town, he's met with resistance by Mayor Larry Vaughn (Murray Hamilton) and the town.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • In a brief exchange with reporters on Friday, Carney addressed questions about the breakdown in talks.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 29 June 2025
  • For a brief moment, everything seemed to be going according to plan.
    Ashley Vega, People.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Fifteen years later, humanity is a vagabond race scattered amid the galaxy.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 June 2025
  • Spinning off from the 2021 movie of the same name, the show is about Pil, a spunky vagabond girl living in the medieval city of Foggyborough.
    Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 June 2025
Noun
  • For more information on traffic conditions, travelers can: Download the Mass511 mobile app or visit www.mass511.com to view live cameras, travel times, real-time traffic conditions, and project information before setting out on the road.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 19 June 2025
  • In other words, one of the two travelers was seen as a human being with rights to live freely and make their own decisions, to be treated with dignity and care; the other was either infantilized at best or completely dehumanized.
    Nuri Kino, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Transient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transient. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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