1
as in temporary
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
built an impermanent structure to serve for the archaeologists' living quarters during the dig
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flash
lasting only for a short time
a summer romance that was an impermanent fancy, quickly forgotten
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of impermanent
The camera drifts, the focus slips, the figures shift; everything onscreen feels fragile and impermanent.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
By integrating the imperfect and impermanent approach known as wabi-sabi, designer Divya Panwar gave this 732-square-foot apartment in Pune, India, a sensual touch.
5.
—Anna-Lena Reith, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2024
Prior to colonization in 1919, Hutus and Tutsi were impermanent economic class categories, likely determined by the number of cattle individuals owned.
—Anneliese M. Schenk-Day, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024
For 20 years, Sinologists have been rightly pointing out the strengths that have helped China avoid pitfalls common to comparable economies and polities, but the pitfalls are still real while the strengths are impermanent.
—Andrew Gilholm, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
By integrating the imperfect and impermanent approach known as wabi-sabi, designer Divya Panwar gave this 732-square-foot apartment in Pune, India, a sensual touch.
5.
—Anna-Lena Reith, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2024
Prior to colonization in 1919, Hutus and Tutsi were impermanent economic class categories, likely determined by the number of cattle individuals owned.
—Anneliese M. Schenk-Day, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024
For 20 years, Sinologists have been rightly pointing out the strengths that have helped China avoid pitfalls common to comparable economies and polities, but the pitfalls are still real while the strengths are impermanent.
—Andrew Gilholm, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2017
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanent
Adjective
-
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
-
Volatility becomes a permanent feature of the market, rather than a temporary aberration.—
Felix Salmon,
Axios,
8 Apr. 2025
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
-
Armstrong was announced as the interim president of the New York City university in August 2024 after then-President Minouche Shafik announced her immediate resignation, following student protests over the Israel-Hamas war that roiled the campus.—
Riley Hoffman,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Analysts have interpreted the strikes as a warning against the new Syrian government in Damascus, headed by interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and its backer, Turkey.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The last two pictures, Trump and Harris, are displayed without biographies, though each has a brief one on the gallery’s website, theyalsoran.com.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
6 Apr. 2025
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Notably, economic activity may see a brief improvement as companies and consumers move in advance of the tariffs.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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
Adjective
-
In her ideal world, everyone would have a transitory object at home.—
Marisa Meltzer,
ARTnews.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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Others point to the fact that while the drugs are promising, their impact may be transitory.—
Seth Joseph,
Forbes,
17 Dec. 2024
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
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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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Impermanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanent. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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