TRANSITORY Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

transitory

adjective

ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē

Definition of transitory

as in temporary

lasting only for a short time a transitory panic struck me when I realized that I had left my wallet in the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Christopher Thornberg, founding partner at Beacon Economics, believes the higher inflation numbers are a transitory (temporary) shock, and not a sustained one. — Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 26 May 2026 Leonardo Ferragamo continues to serve as chair, overseeing the transitory period. — Maliha Shoaib, Vogue, 14 May 2026 Paying interest makes the digital RMB a viable, secure place to store value rather than just a transitory medium for payment. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2026 The stagflationary tilt in subsequent episodes was more modest and transitory. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for transitory

Recent Examples of Synonyms for transitory

Adjective

Lineage has wrapped portions of the building with a temporary material meant to contain debris, reduce odors and dampen noise during the remediation process.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
The Sheriff’s Office announced that its attorneys prevailed in court Thursday afternoon, and the temporary restraining was now dissolved.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of temporary

Adjective

In fact, the weather service said that more than 50% of flash-flood deaths happen in vehicles driven into floodwaters.

— Doyle Rice, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Don’t miss Alcopop’s Black Mango Watermelon, Seongju Chamoe and Watermelon Ice Pop; Matcha Latte, with flash-frozen local herbs and a hand-cut ice diamond; and Journey, a concoction that maps a tomato’s global odyssey.

— Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026

Definition of flash

Adjective

Weist herself appears in a brief introductory clip before the performance proper.

— Rhoda Feng, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Defense attorney Jeremy Warren, who represents both Russell and Flores, argued in both cases that prosecutors had made unusual decisions to charge the deputies with civil rights violations for brief, one-off choices.

— Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026

Definition of brief

Adjective

The bears seen in large urban centers and agricultural areas, like the southeastern corners of the state and parts of the western border, are generally transient, as those areas don't have enough woods to create a good habitat.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The guest population is transient, with many checking in for short stays on their way in or out of town.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026

Definition of transient

Adjective

The crust on the Margherita is covered in big, charred bubbles, with a tang that’s present, but fleeting.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
The church calls that holiday an alien import meant to destroy the Russian family, casting it as a celebration of fleeting passion rather than committed love.

— Diana Dukhanova, The Conversation, 6 July 2026

Definition of fleeting

Adjective

Taylor, now in his 16th season out of Virginia Tech, is the only quarterback in NFL history with 10,000-plus passing yards, 2,000-plus rushing yards, 70-plus passing TDs, 20-plus rushing TDs and fewer than 35 interceptions.

— Rob Reischel, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
The two groups aren’t just growing at different speeds—they’re moving apart with every passing year, and the absolute distance between them grows faster as both numbers get larger.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 June 2026

Definition of passing

Adjective

How his work embraces the ephemeral, how that is expressed in pieces made to last much longer than a season.

— Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
And most ephemeral but perhaps most affecting were the shows that say something about our country and culture through their nuanced and often allegorical storytelling.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Definition of ephemeral

Browse Nearby Words

transitoriness

transitory

transits

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“Transitory.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transitory. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of transitory

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