Synonyms for ephemeral
ɪˈfɛm ər əlephemer·al

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:5.0 / 2 votes

1. ephemeralnoun

   Lasting for a short period of time.

   Synonyms:
   volatile, momentary, fleeting, short-lived, short, evanescent, temporary, transitory

   Antonyms:
   eternal, timeless, everlasting, permanent

2. ephemeraladjective

   Existing for only one day, as with some flowers, insects, and diseases.

   Synonyms:
   ephemeron, short-lived, transitory, volatile, evanescent, temporary, fleeting, momentary, short

3. ephemeraladjective

   Usually dry, but filling with water for brief periods during and after precipitation.

   Synonyms:
   transitory, volatile, momentary, short, temporary, short-lived, evanescent, fleeting

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. ephemeral

   Transient and transitory are both derived from the same original source (Latin trans, over, and eo, go), denoting that which quickly passes or is passing away, but there is between them a fine shade of difference. A thing is transient which in fact is not lasting; a thing is transitory which by its very nature must soon pass away; a thing is temporary (Latin tempus, time) which is intended to last or be made use of but a little while; as, a transient joy; this transitory life; a temporary chairman. Ephemeral (Greek epi, on, and hemera, day) literally lasting but for a day, often marks more strongly than transient exceeding brevity of duration; it agrees with transitory in denoting that its object is destined to pass away, but is stronger, as denoting not only its certain but its speedy extinction; thus that which is ephemeral is looked upon as at once slight and perishable, and the word carries often a suggestion of contempt; man's life is transitory, a butterfly's existence is ephemeral; with no solid qualities or worthy achievements a pretender may sometimes gain an ephemeral popularity. That which is fleeting is viewed as in the act of passing swiftly by, and that which is fugitive (Latin fugio, flee) as eluding attempts to detain it; that which is evanescent (Latin evanesco, from e, out, and vanus, empty, vain) as in the act of vanishing even while we gaze, as the hues of the sunset.

   Synonyms:
   brief, evanescent, fleeting, flitting, flying, fugitive, momentary, passing, short, temporary, transient, transitory

   Antonyms:
   abiding, enduring, eternal, everlasting, immortal, imperishable, lasting, permanent, perpetual, persistent, undying, unfading

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ephemeral

   Synonyms:
   transient, evanescent, fleeting, fugacious, fugitive, momentary

   Antonyms:
   abiding, persistent, permanent, perpetual, eternal, perennial, immortal

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ephemeron, ephemeraladjective

   anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day in its winged form

   Synonyms:
   ephemeron

   Antonyms:
   lasting, permanent

2. ephemeral, passing, short-lived, transient, transitory, fugaciousadjective

   lasting a very short time

   "the ephemeral joys of childhood"; "a passing fancy"; "youth's transient beauty"; "love is transitory but it is eternal"; "fugacious blossoms"

   Synonyms:
   passing, short-lived, passing(a), pass(a), transeunt, cursory, transitory, perfunctory, fugacious, casual, transient

   Antonyms:
   lasting, permanent

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ephemeraladjective

   Synonyms:
   short-lived, transitory, transient, fleeting, flitting, evanescent, fugitive, fugacious, momentary, brief

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "ephemeral":

   mayfly, short-lived, fleeting, transitory, transient

How to pronounce ephemeral?

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How to use ephemeral in a sentence?

1. Seung Shin:

   Ephemeral was born from a personal experience.

2. Erik Pevernagie:

   Ephemeral emotions can be saved in the backyard of our memory. Beauty and poetry are stored in the mind and illuminate our thoughts. ( "Living life as a poem" )

3. John Reznikoff:

   When somebody has died, and their estate is being sold, that is typically when their items increase in price, because it's emotional and ephemeral.

4. Debasish Mridha, M.D.:

   Life is eternal and, at the same time, ephemeral.

5. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus:

   All is ephemeral,--fame and the famous as well.