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 Fun fact: The brand name Monos is inspired by the Japanese concept of mono no aware, which encourages seeing the beauty of fleeting moments. Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 20 Mar. 2025 Just as a strong relationship isn’t defined by a single conversation, confidence comes from recognizing long-term patterns rather than reacting to fleeting moments. Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 In the process, Ari and Cass expose their most vulnerable selves, if only for a few fleeting moments. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025 While the camp’s Cold War importance was fleeting — the US military abandoned Camp Century in the late 1960s after less than a decade in operation — the cutting-edge scientific work conducted there, in fields such as geophysics and paleoclimatology, has had enduring impacts. Katie Hunt, CNN, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fleeting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting
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
  • There was a brief moment when Russell managed to get amongst them after the first round of stops, only for Norris to quickly gain the place back a couple of laps later.
    Luke Smith, The Athletic, 23 Mar. 2025
  • While attempting to solve the case, the duo must learn how to partner despite Park’s never-ending skepticism of Cupp’s methods and Cupp’s commitment to stay true to herself, even if that means having brief intermissions for birding.
    Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The adhesion is very strong, which might be a benefit for a wall where strong, long-term adhesion is desired, but for renters looking for a temporary fix, this might not be the best due to its difficulty in removing and damage of the paint on the wall.
    Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Trump administration officials suggested there would be a temporary carveout for vehicles and parts that complied with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free-trade agreement, but said how that would end up working was still being determined.
    Rob Wile, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This uncertainty is more than a transient meme storm.
    Jaron Lanier, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Thus, selling at a low locks in a loss that may have only been transient.
    True Tamplin, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Critically, Villa’s left-back must show composure in possession during their build-up, where he is expected to stay deep, receive under pressure and provide a passing option, as shown here against Arsenal in January.
    Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Denver’s defense, led by Surtain II, ranked third in scoring defense while Nix turned in one of the best rookie seasons by a quarterback in NFL history by finishing with the most passing touchdowns, touchdowns, completions and passing yards of any rookie quarterback.
    DJ Siddiqi, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Lately, the concern that Trump’s tariffs could be inflationary has added another wrinkle, though Fed Chair Powell said this past Wednesday that their impact could be transitory.
    Kevin Stankiewicz,Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Previously, the area that would become the Wyoming Territory had been a transitory place that covered wagons passed through on their way west.
    Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Snapchat, meanwhile, exposed teens to risky interactions due to its ephemeral messaging, which fosters intimate but potentially unsafe connections.
    Abdulmalik Alluhidan, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025
  • They’re not limited to Southern California, though; for more info on possible places these awesome, ephemeral displays might appear in 2025, check out the nonprofit Theodore Payne Foundation.
    Outside Online, Outside Online, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • But this momentary interruption in the normal order hardly matters because the ensemble is so comfortably aligned in the theatrical universe that Godwin has created.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The Cooper tires, despite clearly lacking some performance, provided something of a similar exposé as the heavy Challengers: revealing even momentary errors that needed correcting.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

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