FLEETING Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of fleeting are ephemeral , evanescent , fugitive , momentary , transient , and transitory . While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," 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: In what contexts can 'ephemeral' take the place of 'fleeting'?

The words ephemeral and fleeting are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration. // many slang words are ephemeral

Q: Where would 'evanescent' be a reasonable alternative to 'fleeting'?

While the synonyms evanescent and fleeting are close in meaning, 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: When is it sensible to use 'momentary' instead of 'fleeting'?

The synonyms momentary and fleeting are sometimes interchangeable, 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: When might 'transient' be a better fit than 'fleeting'?

The meanings of transient and fleeting largely overlap; however, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay. // a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

Q: When is 'transitory' a more appropriate choice than 'fleeting'?

The words transitory and fleeting 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

fleeting

adjective

ˈflē-tiŋ

Definition of fleeting

as in flash

lasting only for a short time had a fleeting desire to jump into the cool lake but kept on hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

The words ephemeral and fleeting are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

Where would evanescent be a reasonable alternative to fleeting?

While the synonyms evanescent and fleeting are close in meaning, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

When is it sensible to use momentary instead of fleeting?

The synonyms momentary and fleeting are sometimes interchangeable, 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

When might transient be a better fit than fleeting?

The meanings of transient and fleeting largely overlap; however, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When is transitory a more appropriate choice than fleeting?

The words transitory and fleeting 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 fleeting 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 Cloudy, lightly sparkling and only available during harvest, Sturm gives wine lovers a fleeting glimpse of fermentation while celebrating one of Austria’s oldest traditions. — Emily Cappiello, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 What solidarity Americans had with Mysore proved fleeting after independence. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 2 July 2026 Crowds gathered near Madison Square Garden appeared eager for even fleeting glimpses of the celebrity guests attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding early Saturday morning. — Gordon Ebanks, CNN Money, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleeting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting

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

Things settled down quickly after that, though the brief dustup ended with Contreras, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy, Boston outfielder Nate Eaton and Mikolas being ejected.

— CBS News, CBS News, 1 July 2026
The ordinance marks a brief respite in the monthslong scramble to adapt to the broad changes brought by SB 79.

— Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of brief

Adjective

Rodríguez said emergency economic measures will include relief funds for victims and temporary waivers on documentation and property registration fees to facilitate housing relocation.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Under Venezuela’s constitution, temporary absences are to be filled by the vice president — which was Rodríguez’s former role — for up to 90 days.

— Regina Garcia Cano, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of temporary

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

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

In June of that year, as the Fed pivoted off its transitory-inflation stance, the team used its quarterly investor call to lay out the changes coming to its investment and property management approach.

— Nia Bowers, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Then there are the related questions of whether the future sheds will really become ubiquitous or be any more transitory than the old ones.

— Justin Davidson, Curbed, 24 June 2026

Definition of transitory

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

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“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of fleeting

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