Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of transitory are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, and transient. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," 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

When could ephemeral be used to replace transitory?

Although the words ephemeral and transitory have much in common, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When is evanescent a more appropriate choice than transitory?

The meanings of evanescent and transitory largely overlap; 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 transitory?

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

When would momentary be a good substitute for transitory?

While in some cases nearly identical to transitory, 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

In what contexts can transient take the place of transitory?

While the synonyms transient and transitory are close in meaning, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

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 transitory The city’s inherent transitory nature means there’s always a flow of people coming and going, both domestically and internationally, which makes D.C. ripe for this kind of quiet space for a meeting, political or otherwise. William Goodman, Robb Report, 1 May 2025 Economists who initially expected price increases to be transitory were surprised at inflationary pressures that lingered for years. Ana Swanson, New York Times, 1 May 2025 The Trump administration’s assurance that the American economy will experience a transitory period is a promise greatly supported by America’s leading Technology and Information sector. Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 But on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell labeled the potential effect of tariffs on inflation as likely being short-lived or transitory. Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transitory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transitory
Adjective
  • There’s talk of a temporary platform for trains that already pass by to stop.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
  • The local event is part of a yearly nationwide ham radio open house, during which more than 40,000 amateur radio clubs throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate its science, skill, and service to communities and the nation.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 June 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
Adjective
  • There’s likely a good movie somewhere on the cutting room floor, since these ideas make brief appearances, but that they’re seldom explored speaks to a film whose roughest edges have been sanded down.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 June 2025
  • Include a brief description of the destination next to each code.
    Sharat Potharaju, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • Others view Western supremacy as not only the source of much ill, but also inevitably transient.
    Abhijnan Rej, Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2025
  • Police said the suspect was a transient man living in the area and was on probation.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Other main themes that guests can find in Guidi’s work are the relationship between space and light, between the solidity of architecture and the fleeting nature of the instant, between urban space and individual perception, between material traces and memory.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
  • To choose security over a passion that may be fleeting? Much of the humor in the film flows from Lucy’s cynicism about life and love.
    Scott Phillips, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to Ben Taylor’s Passer Rating metric, this past season was the best passing year of Robinson’s career – grading as a respectable 5.3 out of 10 (53rd percentile).
    Mat Issa, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
  • With each passing year, the anniversaries of key events in World War II serve as a reminder of our slow loss of a great generation of Americans.
    Medianews Group, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Rogen lands a few funny lines, but the jokes mostly serve to distract from the point of the story: that freedom is ephemeral and easily corrupted, while humans are inherently piggish (as opposed to the other way around), seizing the first opportunity to take more than their share.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 June 2025
  • Episodes of natural selection are sometimes ephemeral, and evidence of them vanishes from our genomes when the selective pressures subside or when populations mix.
    Kermit Pattison, Scientific American, 20 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Transitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transitory. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on transitory

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!