EPHEMERAL Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'ephemeral' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ephemeral are evanescent , fleeting , fugitive , momentary , transient , and transitory . While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration. // many slang words are ephemeral

Q: When would 'evanescent' be a good substitute for 'ephemeral'?

The words evanescent and ephemeral are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 are the words 'fugitive' and 'fleeting' related as synonyms of 'ephemeral'?

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 could 'momentary' be used to replace 'ephemeral'?

The words momentary and ephemeral can be used in similar contexts, but 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 'ephemeral'?

The synonyms transient and ephemeral are sometimes interchangeable, but transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay. // a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

Q: When can 'transitory' be used instead of 'ephemeral'?

In some situations, the words transitory and ephemeral are roughly equivalent. However, 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

ephemeral

adjective

i-ˈfe-mə-rəl

Definition of ephemeral

as in flash

lasting only for a short time the autumnal blaze of colors is always to be treasured, all the more so because it is so ephemeral

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

many slang words are ephemeral

When would evanescent be a good substitute for ephemeral?

The words evanescent and ephemeral are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 are the words fugitive and fleeting related as synonyms of ephemeral?

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 could momentary be used to replace ephemeral?

The words momentary and ephemeral can be used in similar contexts, but 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 ephemeral?

The synonyms transient and ephemeral are sometimes interchangeable, but transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When can transitory be used instead of ephemeral?

In some situations, the words transitory and ephemeral are roughly equivalent. However, 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 ephemeral So many people point to Stop Making Sense as the benchmark for how to transform a live performance into something more than an ephemeral moment happening in front of a lens. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026 The event at the 12-acre West Midtown art center, which this year will take place Saturday, features dozens of artists, live music, open studios and other ephemeral experiences. — Tess Malone, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026 The Leipzig scenes are both ephemeral and integral; later, Taro will speculate that if the Germans had had the same revolutionary zeal as the Spanish, Hitler might have been defeated. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 The prospect of a book, uneditable once on shelves, presented an overwhelming feeling of finality compared to the ever-evolving, ephemeral language of fashion design. — Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ephemeral

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemeral

Adjective

San Antonio, Texas, was under a flash-flood warning through Thursday evening, and the city urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

— Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
On Monday, the flash-flood threat is lower, but locally heavy downpours are possible for parts of the Mid-Atlantic later in the day.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of flash

Adjective

The recall classification was updated this month to Class ll — meaning exposure to the product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Any kind of workout is a temporary emergency for the cells involved.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of temporary

Adjective

Yet now, after brief outbreaks in Texas during the 1970s and the Florida Keys in 2016, the dangerous parasite has returned.

— Robert Kelly, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
After Jahan Dotson’s chance at a first impression came and went with only one catch for 19 yards in a season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Falcons’ receiver shared a brief chat with president of football Matt Ryan.

— Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of brief

Adjective

The transient air pressure of a passing thunderstorm, or the excessive production of cow patties, spoiled the chips.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Back in February, Wyandotte County commissioners decided that the local government would direct a portion of its future sales, use and transient guest tax revenues to pay for the Chiefs development.

— Sofi Zeman October 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of transient

Adjective

But pieces from those fleeting years, like the rain boots and their memories, move forward with us.

— Stephanie Cook Broadhurst, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Oct. 2026
Time is one of Butler’s preoccupations—its fleeting nature, its nonlinear experience, its rubberbanding effect on our perception.

— Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of fleeting

Adjective

The Horned Frogs leaned more on their passing game as the run game took a step back significantly in 2023.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
Containing the ground game could put Seattle in predictable passing situations, giving the Chiefs a chance to pressure Darnold and force mistakes.

— Neil Nakahodo, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of passing

Adjective

The motivation to hit the road, present the music and see the faces of the fans is addictive, but after days of long bus rides and transitory environs, there’s a buzz that comes from getting back to the family.

— Tom Roland, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Still, there are hints of purpose in such transitory alignments, a sense of intuitive forces at work.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of transitory

Adjective

Still, this is evanescent stuff, hardly weighty enough to get mad about with respect to the aforementioned problematic areas.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025
The benefits of being a statesman, analysts say, can be evanescent if domestic woes keep piling up.

— Mark Landler, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025

Definition of evanescent

Browse Nearby Words

ephemera

ephemeral

ephemerality

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“Ephemeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemeral. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ephemeral

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to ephemeral

Challenging Standardized Test Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on ephemeral

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How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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Popular in Wordplay

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