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 The boy, too young to grasp the danger, was playing and laughing; a fleeting moment of innocence, juxtaposed against the backdrop of war. Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025 Be reassured that this is a fleeting influence – gone in 48 hours. Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 July 2025 Commonly planted across Texas by homeowners and developers, these trees provide only a fleeting aesthetic benefit, lasting three to four weeks at most just ahead of spring. Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025 That point in time was also fleeting — women’s labor force participation climbed steadily from the late 1940s, peaking at 60 percent in 1999 before dropping slightly. Anna North, Vox, 26 June 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
  • Will Reeve, son of the late Christopher Reeve, one of the more famous Hollywood Men of Steel, makes a brief appearance in Superman.
    EW.com, EW.com, 11 July 2025
  • Here is just a brief sampling: Evan Phillips: Out for the season.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
Adjective
  • Save any receipts for building materials, cleanup supplies, temporary housing, replacement costs for clothing and home goods, and food costs. File a claim with FEMA Kerr County residents can start making those claims because that area has been declared a federal disaster area.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 13 July 2025
  • Initially, Levitt’s ostomy was temporary, meaning her rectum was left intact for a possible future reconnection.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • And while Riemens had a transient lifestyle and was planning a trip to visit family in Michigan just before his disappearance, finding his truck at a nearby store quickly cast suspicion.
    Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • Spring Hill has the lowest transient guest rate in Johnson County at 4%.
    Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • With each passing year, the evidence mounts that 2005 was more good fortune than anything else.
    Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 July 2025
  • Today, the success of the CUDA model has led to the creation of a thriving ecosystem that creates network effects that strengthen with each passing year.
    Steven Wolfe Pereira, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Adjective
  • Poignant visual metaphors for mortality and the transitory power of the cinematic image abound.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 13 June 2025
  • There’s a transitory nature in a lot of communities, so maybe people don’t feel as invested in them.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2025
Adjective
  • As last week’s debate on the sprawling GOP budget bill demonstrated, the two parties have refused to downsize their legislative ambitions to these systematically smaller and more ephemeral majorities.
    Ronald Brownstein, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
  • The findings offer a compelling response to Crick’s dilemma, reconciling the discordant timescales to explain how ephemeral molecules maintain memories that last a lifetime.
    Ajdina Halilovic, Wired News, 6 July 2025
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
  • After Israel struck the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander in June, killing men responsible for torture, executions and massacres, some civilians felt momentary relief.
    Ava Homa, Mercury News, 2 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

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