FLEETING Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

fleeting

adjective

ˈflē-tiŋ

Definition of fleeting

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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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 That improvement, however, could be fleeting, as another shot of smoke was forecast to surge southward from central Canada on Tuesday. — Forum News Service, Twin Cities, 20 July 2026 The government has aggressively pursued cases against protesters and others who have had even fleeting and unintentional physical contact with agents. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 19 July 2026 But the walkout took place at a strange, fleeting moment when corporations like Google wanted to align themselves with the #resistance. — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026 Part of an eclipse’s emotional impact is how fleeting that moment of totality is; this August’s will max out at just more than two minutes. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fleeting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fleeting

Adjective

Parts of Connecticut and New York, including the Albany area, remained under flash-flood warnings on Wednesday morning.

— Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Slow-moving storms may pose flash-flood risks across large portions of North, West, Central, South and East Texas beginning on Sunday, June 12, with the main threats expected early to mid-week.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of flash

Adjective

Project Glasswing gave a perception that defenders would have a brief window to strengthen their defenses before the offensive capabilities of Mythos or equivalent models were available to the public.

— Tim Keary, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Supporters only caught a brief glimpse of the SUV that met Messi on the tarmac to transport him and his family to the private neighborhood of Funes, roughly 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 July 2026

Definition of brief

Adjective

In 2025, Sunshine Health issued a temporary pause on adding practitioners to make sure the state's network providers are all credentialed.

— Larry Seward, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Established by Congress in 1990, TPS gives temporary protection to people who don’t feel safe returning to countries plagued by disaster or armed conflict such as El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

— Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of temporary

Adjective

Mendieta is best known for work that interweaves sadness with violence, drawing on her experiences of exile and her feminist politics to negotiate the transient fragility of life.

— Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
His vision of transient living, where violence, desolation and sexuality were expressed through an aching slide guitar, offered a counterpoint to the gospel heard throughout southern Baptist churches.

— Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026

Definition of transient

Adjective

Since 2018-19, no Premier League centre-back (with 900-plus minutes of game time) has logged a higher passing accuracy than Stones’ 94 per cent.

— Mark Carey, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Stockton threw the most passing touchdowns of any high school quarterback in state history (177) as a four-year starter for the Wildcats.

— Jack Leo, AJC.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of passing

Adjective

The Fed woke up from its dream of transitory inflation and began to raise rates.

— Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
On the National Mall this week, Freedom 250 signs pointed visitors toward temporary state pavilions, a Ferris wheel and mobile, transitory history exhibits.

— Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 July 2026

Definition of transitory

Adjective

Like a poem, a picture is another way of remembering, of trying to capture the ephemeral, recover a fleeting moment.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Others express concern about shifting attention of the schools too sharply to the ephemeral needs of the labor market.

— Tim Knowles, Fortune, 8 July 2026

Definition of ephemeral

Adjective

Experts believe tiki's blend of fun, history, and community ensures its lasting appeal for new generations seeking a momentary escape from daily life.

— Carissa Chesanek, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Yet the company does have contend with fading interest from its existing consumer base; most users tend to use the product less after two weeks, except for momentary bumps from competitions.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of momentary

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“Fleeting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fleeting. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fleeting

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