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
  • Peyton Manning Doesn't Hold Back About Aaron Rodgers Amid Steelers Rumors During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, Marino revealed some brief thoughts on Rodgers and the Steelers.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
  • The private residence was used for a brief exterior shot only in the movie.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • The judge also set a hearing on a request for a temporary restraining order for June 13 at the federal courthouse in Denver.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 June 2025
  • The Navy veteran's temporary fix has been seasonally decorating a construction cone, which was placed over the sinkhole as a warning.
    Angel Saunders, People.com, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • And so happiness by nature is meant to be transient.
    Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The Pacific Northwest has long had some of the highest cremation rates in the country, in part because its residents tend to be less religious and more transient.
    Susan Shain, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • With each passing year, the anniversaries of key events in World War II serve as a reminder of our slow loss of a great generation of Americans.
    Medianews Group, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
  • Recognized this year by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People, Snoop Dogg’s legacy continues to grow with each passing year.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • The challenge is for those moments to not be so fleeting.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025
  • Among the group is a pair of Black twins, whose professor mentions Mengele’s fixation with identical siblings, which both portends fleeting dramatic moments in the rest of the film, and also steeps this post-mortem study in dramatic irony.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 May 2025
Adjective
  • The technique makes an ephemeral beauty eternal by flattening the daisies, pansies, violets, and wildflowers that color your garden and turning them into enchanting home decor.
    Perri Ormont Blumberg, Architectural Digest, 27 May 2025
  • Photographers also took note of the entirely ordinary and ephemeral things around them: a shelf of glassware, a broom in a courtyard, a tree, a leaf.
    Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 24 May 2025
Adjective
  • Reilly also credits the transitory nature of many residents for making Iowa City so welcoming.
    Diana Lambdin Meyer, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • The tall, free-standing treehouses were designed to be folded and moved elsewhere by their inhabitants who, because of the area’s vulnerability to climate change, live a transitory lifestyle.
    Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Evanescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/evanescent. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on evanescent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!