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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
Arrests of fugitive aliens at-large, meanwhile, have gone up from 2,164 to 5,538 – a 156% increase. Greg Wehner, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2025 William Winsor, one of the leading paint manufacturers of the day, had personally warned Turner about fugitive color. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
Campbell, as a fugitive, is prohibited from owning guns. Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2025 Months prior to Quinn’s killing, Wilson had escaped a Miami prison and he was deemed a fugitive, per the outlet. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fugitive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fugitive
Adjective
  • But despite support from Connecticut officials for a limited bear hunting season, legislation remains elusive.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
  • While scientists broadly understand the evolution of the anatomical features and neural networks in the brain that are crucial to this ability, the genetic component of speech has remained elusive.
    Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • Residents who live near the intersection where the accident occurred said the flash mobs of street takeovers have become weekly occurrences in their neighborhood.
    Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022
Adjective
  • Oded took pride in his work helping the traditionally nomadic Bedouin people of the Negev Desert, his daughter told The Associated Press, describing a case that went to Israel’s High Court and resulted in the return of some of their land.
    ASSOCIATED PRESS, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Others helped governments protect against diseases like polio and measles in conflict zones and among nomadic groups.
    Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Every now and then, a fresh Mickey slips out of the regeneration machine and tumbles slickly onto the floor like a fleshy alien.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Kate Mara is stalked by creepy aliens while in lockdown at a remote safe house in The Astronaut, a new sci-fi thriller from writer-director Jess Varley.
    Benjamin VanHoose, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There will be no signs of the safe parking lot during the day because Dreams for Change clients will use the resource center’s restrooms and dining hall, so no portable toilets or other temporary structures will be needed on the property.
    Gary Warth, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2025
  • All three aircraft had violated temporary flight restrictions in the area, the command said.
    Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • In 2024, the European Union slashed its development fund by 7.5%, redirecting €2 billion toward refugee support.
    Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • But in 1941, Jewish refugees were rounded up into a ghetto.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Revenue from the hotel room tax known as transient occupancy tax or TOT increased from $19.1 million to $19.7 million, or 3%.
    Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The environment, lifestyle changes, and short-term fluctuations such as transient illnesses or restless sleep impact that day and the following two weeks!
    Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The Kurdish people have had a complicated relationship with Erdogan, who courted them during his early years in power by granting them more rights and reversing restrictions on the use of their language, and worked on the brief peace process with the PKK.
    Eyad Kourdi, CNN, 1 Mar. 2025
  • The world in brief Expert claims Russia violating rights BANGUI, Central African Republic -- An independent investigator is claiming United Nations peacekeeping forces and Russian mercenaries are carrying out human rights violations in the Central African Republic.
    Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Fugitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fugitive. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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