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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fugitive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fugitive are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, 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

When is ephemeral a more appropriate choice than fugitive?

The meanings of ephemeral and fugitive largely overlap; however, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When is it sensible to use evanescent instead of fugitive?

In some situations, the words evanescent and fugitive are roughly equivalent. However, 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 can momentary be used instead of fugitive?

While in some cases nearly identical to fugitive, 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

Where would transient be a reasonable alternative to fugitive?

The words transient and fugitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

In what contexts can transitory take the place of fugitive?

The words transitory and fugitive 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 fugitive
Adjective
The teen was taken out of Bronx Central Booking and brought to a hospital Wednesday morning, about 24 hours after he was apprehended by a fugitive task force composed of NYPD cops and U.S. marshals. Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 May 2025 For all the civility of tone and talk of compromise—Lincoln went so far as to agree that a fugitive slave could be recaptured and returned to bondage—the real conflict was profound and, in the end, unbridgeable. Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
The seven fugitives still on the run are Jermaine Donald, 42; Antoine Massey, 33; Leo Tate, 31; Lenton Vanburen, 27; Derrick Groves, 27; Gary Price, 21; and Corey Boyd, 19. Donald and Boyd were both facing second-degree murder charges. Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025 Another fugitive, Boyd, is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge. Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fugitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fugitive
Adjective
  • Polls have suggested the Senate race in Texas could potentially become competitive, though the state has proven elusive to Democrats.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • Where access to affordable healthcare, comprehensive postpartum care, and paid leave remains elusive.
    Danaya Wilson, Forbes.com, 23 May 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
  • For millennia their nomadic ancestors came here to fish Arctic char, a silvery-orange cousin of the brook trout.
    Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 May 2025
  • The villages in this mountainous landscape are home to a pastoral nomadic community that has lived for generations in close connection with the land.
    Natela Grigalashvili, The Dial, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • More Entertainment: 'Black Panther' Game Canceled and Studio Shockingly Shut Down by EA This eventually led to 'Lilo & Stitch' getting a live-action remake to capitalize on the fan base that has grown for the lovable alien since 2002.
    Jeremy Hanna, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Enter: the little blue alien and Tom Cruise, still performing his own stunts at 62.
    Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Adjective
  • Harvard has fought back in the courts, winning a temporary restraining order on May 23 that will allow international enrollments to continue as the case makes its way through the courts.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 27 May 2025
  • This approach would help companies to continue their operations and, at the same time, give workers a chance to enter the industry, as in many situations, temporary roles can turn into long-term positions.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • Erdogan said a committee had been formed to work out what to do with the prisoners, particularly women and children held at refugee camps such as Al-Hol in northern Syria.
    Andrew Wilks, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
  • This story has been updated to reflect the shooting incident occurred near the Jenin refugee camp, not within the camp.
    Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • And so happiness by nature is meant to be transient.
    Jess Cording, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • The Pacific Northwest has long had some of the highest cremation rates in the country, in part because its residents tend to be less religious and more transient.
    Susan Shain, New York Times, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Just a brief walk from the preserve’s entrance, this unique grotto reveals a stunning 50-foot waterfall cascading into a jade-green pool.
    Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 24 May 2025
  • India is emerging after a brief conflict with Pakistan, with a ceasefire thankfully appearing to hold for now.
    Vasuki Shastry, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fugitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fugitive. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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