TEMPORARY Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

temporary 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtem-pə-ˌrer-ē

Definition of temporary

as in interim

intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time summer workers looking for temporary accommodations in private homes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flash

lasting only for a short time a temporary lapse of memory

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in provisional

serving in a position for the time being the temporary head of the sales division

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

temporary

2 of 2

noun

as in temp

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 temporary

Adjective

After the Superattico10 collection, the temporary store will carry the spring 2027 line that was paraded during Milan Fashion Week last month. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 The support page goes on to list other restrictions, including how temporary chats cannot be placed in locked chats. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026

Noun

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, large areas of farmland were treated similarly, and contaminated topsoil was removed and stored in temporary as well as long-term facilities. — Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 California voters will have to approve the temporary in a special election in November. — Terry Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for temporary

Recent Examples of Synonyms for temporary

Adjective

Running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
During a March City Council meeting, interim Police Chief Douglas Brinkley said Independence officers conducted 541 pursuits in 2025, compared with 137 by Kansas City police, The Kansas City Star reported.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of interim

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

But the suspension remains provisional, pending further legal proceedings that could include an agreement under consideration by a federal court.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
But their ballot is provisional, and it is not supposed to be counted until the voter is verified by state officials.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of provisional

Noun

The hotter the water, the quicker the sugar will dissolve—anywhere from three minutes (room temp water) to 20 seconds (boiling water).

— Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026
Given the temp range and low dew point, the poster skewed the results to make a small strip of the west coast look ideal.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of temp

Adjective

Despite years of engaging with local politicians, Airbnb has failed to stop some of them from implementing caps or outright bans on short-term rentals.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Patching up an outdated, aging infrastructure — like decades-old HVAC, electrical systems and leaking roofs — is a costly, short-term fix that drains our resources and ends up costing the community more.

— Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of short-term

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

Noun

With the support of our Board of Trustees, Valencia has established a minimum average annual graduate earnings benchmark of $42,000 for our associate in science programs.

— Kathleen Plinske, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Federal prosecutors say Bailey and an associate tricked people out of $2 million from 2018 to 2022.

— AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of associate

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

Browse Nearby Words

temporariness

temporary

temporize

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Temporary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/temporary. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of temporary

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes