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
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
  • Even with the temporary pause, abrupt policy changes have left some business owners tapping into personal savings, postponing expansions and in some cases, closing altogether.
    Ana Valdez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson announced a temporary suspension of her re-election campaign in a statement on May 21.
    Audrey Conklin, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • In fact, one of her biggest food joys in TGM is to eat as a solo drifter.
    Klara Feenstra June 23, Literary Hub, 23 June 2025
  • 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
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
  • An international tourist tax in the amount of 1,000 yen ($7 USD) is automatically included in your departure airfare.
    Michelle Gross, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
  • The tourist destination of Cabo San Lucas is now in the possible path of Flossie.
    Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Some suggestions seem easy and inexpensive to implement — encouraging law enforcement officers to issue a civil citation for non-violent misdemeanor offenses, an alternative to an arrest that requires a jail booking and often only a brief stay behind bars for the offender.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 June 2025
  • Sadly, the wheels (or should that be legs?) all come off in that final act, as the film limps towards its conclusion via a brief stay in Harlan Ogilvy (Robbins)' basement.
    Richard Edwards, Space.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
  • Flynn stars in the series in the pivotal role of Dickie Greenleaf, a wayward vagabond who is murdered by a grifter, Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott), who assumes Dickie’s identity.
    Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
  • May 29, 2025 Marseille is like a siren’s song; for thousands of years, sailors and vagabonds have been drawn in and hooked by its rebellious undercurrent.
    Lily Radziemski, New York Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • If the pattern holds, travelers could soon be marking their calendars for the tiger shark aggregation on Okaloosa Island.
    Joe Sills, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • The nightmare comes as travelers gear up for the holiday weekend.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Transient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transient. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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