evanescent
adjective
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Breaking Down Evanescent
The fragile, airy quality of evanescent things reflects the etymology of the word evanescent itself. It’s from a form of the Latin verb evanescere, which means "to evaporate" or "to vanish.” (Evanescere is also the ultimate source of vanish.) Given the similarity in spelling between the two words, you might expect evaporate to be from this family as well, but its source is another steamy Latin root, evaporare.
Synonyms
- brief
- deciduous
- ephemeral
- flash
- fleeting
- fugacious
- fugitive
- impermanent
- momentary
- passing
- short-lived
- temporary
- transient
- transitory
Example Sentences
Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 19 Aug. 2021 But from his vantage on the evanescent bridge to maturity, So is puzzling out some big questions, ones that might be exigent from different vantages at any age. Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 19 Aug. 2021 This is to try to capture and memorialize this volatile and evanescent mode of expression, with its references both obscure and shared by millions. Patrick Iber, The New Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 This is to try to capture and memorialize this volatile and evanescent mode of expression, with its references both obscure and shared by millions. Patrick Iber, The New Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 Still another is for people and institutions to realize that cancellation mobs are often powerless and evanescent (and unmerited), a fearsome tide from far off that recedes to nothing closer to shore, and simply wait them out before acting rashly. Jack Butler, National Review, 26 Aug. 2021 This is to try to capture and memorialize this volatile and evanescent mode of expression, with its references both obscure and shared by millions. Patrick Iber, The New Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 This is to try to capture and memorialize this volatile and evanescent mode of expression, with its references both obscure and shared by millions. Patrick Iber, The New Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 This is to try to capture and memorialize this volatile and evanescent mode of expression, with its references both obscure and shared by millions. Patrick Iber, The New Republic, 5 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Latin evanescent-, evanescens, present participle of evanescere
1717, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
evanescent
adjective
evanescent
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- flash
- transient
- brief
- temporary
- ephemeral
- fleeting
- passing
- transitory
- momentary
- impermanent
- fugacious
- deciduous
- short-lived
- short
- little
- fugitive
- acting
- provisional
- short-term
- interim
- shortish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- eternal
- lasting
- everlasting
- enduring
- immortal
- deathless
- timeless
- unending
- endless
- perpetual
- undying
- ceaseless
- persistent
- lifelong
- long-lived
- durable
- imperishable
- indestructible
- dateless
- continuing
- indefectible
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of evanescent are ephemeral, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.
The words ephemeral and evanescent can be used in similar contexts, but ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.
Both fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.
In some situations, the words momentary and evanescent are roughly equivalent. However, momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.
The synonyms transient and evanescent are sometimes interchangeable, but transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.
The words transitory and evanescent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.