fleeting

adjective

ˈflē-tiŋ How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
Definition of fleetingnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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 Venus will shine to the upper right of Jupiter in the pre-dawn sky, forming a fleeting cosmic triangle with the red supergiant star Betelgeuse, which will appear low on the eastern horizon before vanishing in the light of the rising sun. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 22 July 2025 For many singles in their 20s and 30s, the experience is filled with fleeting connections, making modern love feel more complicated than ever. —Ramal Nasim, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2025 Key for energy stocks has been a drop in crude prices, despite a fleeting uptick in June as conflict in the Middle East dominated headlines. —Matt Ward-Perkins, CNBC, 14 July 2025 The coordination involved in creating this disposable party favor, for the fleeting delight of millionaires, was just one of a thousand details that Vanity Fair devoted to each year’s extravaganza. —Michael Grynbaum, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for fleeting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting
  1. flash
  2. brief
  3. temporary
  4. transient
  5. passing
  6. transitory
  7. ephemeral
  8. momentary
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
  • Individual games through an 18-week season are so variable that sports books generally don’t offer odds for every single game in a season for more than just a brief moment to create headlines.
    — Chad Graff, New York Times, 23 July 2025
  • 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
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • The court's ruling extending its temporary restraining order is disappointing.
    — Dana Afana, Freep.com, 26 July 2025
  • But what feels like a temporary shutdown can become a long-term habit.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
Definition of temporary
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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of ephemeral
Adjective
  • Then, a squishing together, the momentary annexation of territory forgotten, until the red shirts of Switzerland and Norway fill the cars entirely.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 3 July 2025
  • The country songs succeeding in this era also highlight how timeless artistry can cement a momentary trend for a generation.
    — Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Definition of momentary

Browse Nearby Words

fleet-footed
fleeting
fleetingness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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