transient 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtran(t)-sh(ē-)ənt How to pronounce transient (audio)
Definition of transientnext
as in temporary
lasting only for a short time had transient thoughts of quitting her job and going back to school

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

transient

2 of 2

noun

1
as in drifter

Related Words
2
as in tourist

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of transient are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

When could ephemeral be used to replace transient?

The synonyms ephemeral and transient are sometimes interchangeable, but ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

Where would evanescent be a reasonable alternative to transient?

In some situations, the words evanescent and transient 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

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

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

In what contexts can momentary take the place of transient?

The words momentary and transient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 transitory be a better fit than transient?

The words transitory and transient 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 transient
Adjective
The universe is a really big place, full of transient events that flash into existence and then fade away quickly. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2026 It’s been one of the most transient positions on the diamond for them this century. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The initiative analyzes archives of historical images for objects that have either disappeared in the present day or flashed only briefly (transient) in the night sky. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2025 The man, who authorities said is a transient, was in critical condition Wednesday. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for transient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transient
  1. temporary
  2. drifter
  3. tourist
  4. flash
  5. vagrant
  6. traveler
  7. brief
  8. vagabond
Adjective
  • At least three people died and nearly two dozen others were injured after a building used as temporary lodgings for workers caught fire early Friday in a suburb of Hungary's capital, authorities said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Feb. 2026
  • And Thursday’s restoration of funding is temporary, pending a ruling on the feds’ motions in the Second Circuit — a reality acknowledged by the GDC on Thursday.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
Definition of temporary
Noun
  • What could go wrong when married couple Timothy and Sloane try to help drifter Old Blindy (Tony Larkin)?
    — Jim Farmer, AJC.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The scene inspired future comedy gags showing drifters and tramps losing their pants to dogs chasing them.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 29 Jan. 2026
Definition of drifter
Noun
  • Threatened by tourists, large-scale farming, and the changing modern world, the farm needs every family member on deck.
    — The Know, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The favorable outcome for exporters could improve employment in industries like manufacturing or advanced technology, while the relative strength of foreign currencies could bring additional tourists and expand the hospitality sector, experts said.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Feb. 2026
Definition of tourist
Adjective
  • Broccoli and Cauliflower Hearty bite-sized florets of broccoli and cauliflower are typically flash-frozen soon after harvest and maintain their crisp-tender texture when cooked from frozen.
    — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
  • To hear top analyst Tom Lee, of Fundstrat, describe the situation, farming never recovered from the invention of flash-frozen foods in the 1920s.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 16 Jan. 2026
Definition of flash
Noun
  • But in the wake of the fire and regular break-ins by vagrants, the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission approved demolition on account of economic hardship in December 2024.
    — Thomas Gounley, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Sadly, the reason bus shelters are disappearing is that the city does not wish to provide seating for homeless people or other kinds of vagrants who may congregate there.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
Definition of vagrant
Noun
  • The traveler confessed to extorting others to commit self-harm, the memo said.
    — Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Rhode Island tops a new study based on real traveler reviews, beating out Texas, New York, and Washington for romantic charm.
    — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
Definition of traveler
Adjective
  • The crucial employment snapshot is slightly delayed because of the brief government shutdown and will show whether the trajectory improved for the US labor market, which has been stuck in a low-hire and low-fire lull.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • School officials issued a brief statement saying the VA had offered to meet with them in Washington.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of brief
Noun
  • Long the purview of vagabond surfers, its coastline is peppered with small towns, like Venao, Guanico, and Cambutal, that are in various stages of being reshaped by bohemian expats.
    — David Amsden, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Dec. 2025
  • There are no talking-head interviews putting addiction into a moral context, nor are there romanticized vagabonds.
    — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Dec. 2025
Definition of vagabond

Browse Nearby Words

transiency
transient
transients
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Cite this Entry

“Transient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transient. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on transient

Nglish: Translation of transient for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about transient

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