transitory

adjective

ˈtran(t)-sə-ˌtȯr-ē How to pronounce transitory (audio)
Definition of transitorynext
as in temporary
lasting only for a short time a transitory panic struck me when I realized that I had left my wallet in the car

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of transitory are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, and transient. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," 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

When could ephemeral be used to replace transitory?

Although the words ephemeral and transitory have much in common, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When is evanescent a more appropriate choice than transitory?

The meanings of evanescent and transitory largely overlap; 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

How do fugitive and fleeting relate to one another, in the sense of transitory?

Both 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 would momentary be a good substitute for transitory?

While in some cases nearly identical to transitory, 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

In what contexts can transient take the place of transitory?

While the synonyms transient and transitory are close in meaning, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

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 transitory Lately, the concern that Trump’s tariffs could be inflationary has added another wrinkle, though Fed Chair Powell said this past Wednesday that their impact could be transitory. —Kevin Stankiewicz,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025 Previously, the area that would become the Wyoming Territory had been a transitory place that covered wagons passed through on their way west. —Michael Luo, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 As was the case with Boseman’s untimely death from cancer, the wildfire storm that has changed Los Angeles forever is a reminder of the transitory nature of life. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Jan. 2025 Related Articles Now, Detroit, which has gone from one of the league’s most disappointing teams to its one of its hottest after hiring a name-brand coach in Todd McLellan, cleared some salary cap space ahead of the trade deadline, while the Ducks plugged a transitory hole in their goalie pipeline. —Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transitory
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transitory
  1. temporary
  2. flash
  3. brief
  4. transient
  5. fleeting
  6. passing
  7. ephemeral
Adjective
  • Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed skepticism over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement Saturday that Russia would observe a temporary ceasefire during the Easter holiday.
    — Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Definition of temporary
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
  • 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
  • Instead of resisting the fleeting nature of experiences, try to fully immerse yourself in them, knowing that their temporality adds to their beauty and significance.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Her brush with fame was fleeting, appearing alongside Nick, Aaron, and their two other siblings—Bobbie Jean and Leslie—on the short-lived, 2006 reality show House of Carters.
    — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 15 Apr. 2025
Definition of fleeting
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
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

transitoriness
transitory
transits
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Cite this Entry

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

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