short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlivd How to pronounce short-lived (audio)
also
-ˈlīvd How to pronounce short-lived (audio)
Synonyms of short-livednext
: not living or lasting long
short-lived insects
short-lived joy

Synonyms of short-lived

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Examples of short-lived in a Sentence

the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
And even then, that heat would be short-lived if the trough lingers around with cooler air to come. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026 However, their pairing was short-lived, as White quickly moved on with Rosalía. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 25 June 2026 The excitement for the underdog teams can, of course, be short-lived as previous dark horses have seen following surprising debuts in the World Cup. — Tales Azzoni, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026 This, too, was short-lived, getting canceled after one season, and Wilson stepped away from acting for a number of years, focusing instead on writing Christian books. — Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for short-lived

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-lived was in 1588

Rhymes for short-lived

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Browse Nearby Words

short list
short-lived
short-livedness
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Cite this Entry

“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-lived. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

short-lived

adjective
ˈshȯrt-ˈlīvd, 
-ˌlivd
: living or lasting only a short time
short-lived blooms
short-lived joy

More from Merriam-Webster on short-lived

Nglish: Translation of short-lived for Spanish Speakers

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