as in transience
the state or quality of lasting only for a short time the ancient Roman ruins are a telling reminder of the impermanence of even the grandest man-made constructions

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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 impermanence But as a Zen teacher, Miller has spent decades contemplating the impermanence of life. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2025 It was established in the wake of World War II to preserve Japanese traditions, revitalize the local economy and strengthen cultural ties between Japan and the U.S. Rooted in the tradition of hanami — viewing flowers in bloom—the event offers a reminder of life’s impermanence. Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2025 Accompanied by an expert local guide, guests can explore the tranquil grounds, which are ritually rebuilt every 20 years to embody the impermanence and renewal at the heart of this belief system. Scott Campbell, theweek, 23 Dec. 2024 But the movement took off only after the horrors of the Franco-Prussian War drove artists to create works focused on the impermanence of life. Staff, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for impermanence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanence
Noun
  • Also memorable is an earlier image while still in Hamburg, in Sarah’s apartment, where the passing trains through the window underline the overall feeling of transience.
    Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The transience of childhood gives way to a permanence that defines adulthood.
    Rick Tumlinson, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Through that love and care, and ephemerality and movement over permanence and rigidity.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Perhaps the most beautiful thing about these sweets are their ephemerality.
    Caroline Newton, Bon Appétit, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • But transiency in the back of the bullpen extends well beyond Woodward’s arrival.
    Dallas News, Dallas News, 27 July 2022
  • The council will hold a workshop outlining strategies and efforts to remedy homelessness and transiency in the city.
    Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2021
Noun
  • To explain why a gag is funny is to crush its soufflé evanescence.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The Stranger with its exploration of another facet of exile and belonging, this time set on a flood-prone German island that exists in a perpetual struggle between evanescence and permanence.
    Jay D. Weissberg, Deadline, 19 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Impermanence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanence. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

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