ephemeral

adjective

i-ˈfe-mə-rəl How to pronounce ephemeral (audio)
Definition of ephemeralnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 This medium-sized fish, with males displaying vibrant rainbow colors and large yellow eyes, was found in ephemeral pools on floodplains. —Miami Herald, 11 July 2025 The conversations revolve around the ephemeral nature of these establishments, the high-speed turnover, and the competition for a sliver of this city. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 As last week’s debate on the sprawling GOP budget bill demonstrated, the two parties have refused to downsize their legislative ambitions to these systematically smaller and more ephemeral majorities. —Ronald Brownstein, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025 The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime. —Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ephemeral
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ephemeral
  1. flash
  2. temporary
  3. brief
  4. transient
  5. fleeting
  6. passing
  7. transitory
  8. evanescent
Adjective
  • Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025
  • The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.
    — Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Definition of flash
Adjective
  • The court's ruling extending its temporary restraining order is disappointing.
    — Dana Afana, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
  • The following year, many non-certified staff were given a temporary $3.50 an hour pay bump using an influx of funding the district received amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
    — Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025
Definition of temporary
Adjective
  • The scene grew chaotic after immigration agents tried to arrest Baraka for trespassing, and McIver's elbows appeared to make brief contact with an immigration officer.
    — Sarah N. Lynch, USA Today, 23 July 2025
  • Topline Actor Ike Barinholtz is in talks to portray the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, in an upcoming comedy-drama movie that will reportedly center on the brief ousting of billionaire Sam Altman from the helm of OpenAI in 2023.
    — Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Its science objectives include understanding the structure and evolution of the universe, mapping the Milky Way and observing transient astronomical events, but it is also set to revolutionize the detection of interstellar objects (ISOs).
    — Andrew Jones, Space.com, 18 July 2025
  • Known as transient guest tax, the dollars are generated by visitors paying to stay at hotels for 28 consecutive days or less.
    — Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
Definition of transient
Adjective
  • And these public standoffs between Jones and his most important players usually end up being pointlessly fleeting.
    — Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 26 July 2025
  • What might have been a fleeting, lighthearted moment turned viral when viewers realized the pair were executives at the same tech company and neither had intended for their embrace to become a public spectacle.
    — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
Definition of fleeting
Adjective
  • Jake Davis and Manu Garcia combined for a passing sequence that ended with Thommy in a pocket of space on the left wing.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2025
  • Earlier this week, the people at PFF put out a stat of the quarterbacks with the most passing and rushing touchdowns since 2022.
    — Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
Definition of passing
Adjective
  • The impact of tariffs is transitory, and quite small relative to the size of the economy.
    — George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
  • Poignant visual metaphors for mortality and the transitory power of the cinematic image abound.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
Definition of transitory
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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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Cite this Entry

“Ephemeral.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ephemeral. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ephemeral

Nglish: Translation of ephemeral for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ephemeral

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