fleeting

adjective

ˈflē-tiŋ How to pronounce fleeting (audio)
Definition of fleetingnext
as in flash
lasting only for a short time had a fleeting desire to jump into the cool lake but kept on hiking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 At the time of my arrival in Sierra Leone, with Ebola case counts finally declining, there was the sense that this was a historic, fleeting moment in which to turn things around, after more than a year of chaos and horror. —Mara Kardas-Nelson, The Dial, 8 Apr. 2025 Winners Practice Discipline Over Motivation Motivation is fleeting. —Stephen Nalley, Rolling Stone, 4 Apr. 2025 Things got better in the second half, but the hole was too big and the momentum too fleeting. —Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2025 Photographed by Dean Majd Photographed by Dean Majd Unlike casual ready-to-wear, traditional Islamic garments aren't bound by the same fleeting trend cycles often picked up by social media. —Tiana Randall, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fleeting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting
  1. flash
  2. brief
  3. temporary
  4. transient
  5. passing
  6. transitory
  7. ephemeral
  8. momentary
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
Definition of flash
Adjective
  • During a brief news conference, Pocatello Mayor Brian Blad said officials could not take questions, citing the ongoing investigation and pending litigation.
    — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The show had a brief run Off Broadway in 1996, then lived on with a miniature national tour and a beloved cast recording.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of brief
Adjective
  • Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security has been sending aggressive emails telling people with temporary legal status to leave the US.
    — Lily Hay Newman, Wired News, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of temporary
Adjective
  • However, for mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation can be a transient state, according to Duckworth.
    — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Investigation is harder, too, when the victims are transient and/or vulnerable, as many of LISK’s victims were.
    — Aja Romano, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of transient
Adjective
  • No more passing responsibility onto your upstream providers or downstream users.
    — Stephanie Domas, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • More funding than ever is being dedicated to better connectivity and more energy, and new projects are sprouting up everywhere with each passing moment.
    — Giuseppe Incitti, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of passing
Adjective
  • The Trump administration’s assurance that the American economy will experience a transitory period is a promise greatly supported by America’s leading Technology and Information sector.
    — Lawrence Wintermeyer, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • But on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell labeled the potential effect of tariffs on inflation as likely being short-lived or transitory.
    — Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of transitory
Adjective
  • When Bob sends an encrypted message, his browser connects to the key server and obtains an ephemeral symmetric encryption key.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Kahle, who early on recognized the ephemeral nature of the web, said the rapid deterioration of the living web is a serious threat to historical preservation.
    — Emma Bowman, NPR, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of ephemeral
Adjective
  • Sarah’s demise happens early on in the film, but her presence is still peppered throughout via flashbacks, momentary flashes mid-scene and photographic reminders.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2025
  • What more can brands like adidas do to move from momentary gestures to systemic impact?
    — Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of momentary

Browse Nearby Words

fleet-footed
fleeting
fleetingness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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