Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of evanescent are ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

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

Where would ephemeral be a reasonable alternative to evanescent?

The words ephemeral and evanescent can be used in similar contexts, but ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

How are the words fugitive and fleeting related as synonyms of evanescent?

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 is it sensible to use momentary instead of evanescent?

In some situations, the words momentary and evanescent are roughly equivalent. However, 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 evanescent?

The synonyms transient and evanescent are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 evanescent?

The words transitory and evanescent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 evanescent Or something perhaps deeper and more difficult but not quite so evanescent? Attendance declines have made this question more urgent. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2023 More often, though, the new songs are evanescent. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2022 On the plus side are our memories, which elevate the evanescent pleasure of the meal to the longer-term reward of enjoyment. Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 24 Nov. 2022 Still another is for people and institutions to realize that cancellation mobs are often powerless and evanescent (and unmerited), a fearsome tide from far off that recedes to nothing closer to shore, and simply wait them out before acting rashly. Jack Butler, National Review, 26 Aug. 2021 See All Example Sentences for evanescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
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
Adjective
  • The court's ruling extending its temporary restraining order is disappointing.
    Dana Afana, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
  • The request, which was made in July, is a temporary stopgap while the company awaits federal clearance to dredge a permanent channel to the Wallops Island site.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2025
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
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
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
Adjective
  • Yet the countess’s greatest achievements may have resided in the ephemeral realm of fashion.
    Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 25 July 2025
  • Agenda items that receive support from the electorate and in Parliament can take years to enact, and by then the country’s famously ephemeral governments often have changed.
    Massimo Calabresi, Time, 24 July 2025
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

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Cite this Entry

“Evanescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evanescent. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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