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

Synonym Chooser

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 Security features include automatic operating system patching and ephemeral compute with limited node lifetimes. —Janakiram Msv, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024 Apps are ephemeral—the most popular ones are always changing. —Rolling Stone Culture Council, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2025 Castro’s relationship to Camacho is peculiar, in the way that not many in the industry had the chance to meet this ephemeral talent. —Griselda Flores, Billboard, 25 Feb. 2025 The first wave of such video art involved documenting performances, dance being after all an ephemeral art form. —Beatrice Loayza, ARTnews.com, 6 Feb. 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
  • Volatility becomes a permanent feature of the market, rather than a temporary aberration.
    — Felix Salmon, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The crash, which involved multiple vehicles, prompted a temporary shutdown of the interstate as first responders arrived on scene.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of temporary
Adjective
  • More recently, a brief outburst of about 90 per hour was seen in 1922.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Francis made the unannounced visit near the end of Mass and delivered a brief greeting, all while receiving oxygen via his nose.
    — Anders Hagstrom, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Statistics on homelessness are fluid because the population is transient and tends to distrust outreach workers.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 31 Mar. 2025
  • And even if that’s the case, our fantasies can be transient.
    — Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of transient
Adjective
  • But for the most part these moments are fleeting, embarrassing; the characters try to connect with these figures of Firestone’s former world, and fail.
    — Moira Donegan, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Trust isn’t built by flash—it’s formed in those quick, fleeting moments when a brand chooses to engage.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of fleeting
Adjective
  • With each passing year, those trees grew more enormous.
    — Thao Thai, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Needless to say, the quality of Lucasfilm's in-house animation work only goes up with each passing year.
    — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of passing
Adjective
  • In her ideal world, everyone would have a transitory object at home.
    — Marisa Meltzer, ARTnews.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Others point to the fact that while the drugs are promising, their impact may be transitory.
    — Seth Joseph, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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 finished product is bright and evanescent, sweet but not too sweet, celebratory, fun, and delicious.
    — Erik Ofgang, Forbes, 7 Jan. 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 16 Apr. 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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