transitory
adjective
ˈtran-zə- 
Synonyms
- brief
- deciduous
- ephemeral
- evanescent
- flash
- fleeting
- fugacious
- fugitive
- impermanent
- momentary
- passing
- short-lived
- temporary
- transient
Example Sentences
Peter Grant, WSJ, 19 Sep. 2022 Inflation may not be transitory but being leader of the U.K. Gerard Baker, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022 Inflation, which economists once hoped was transitory, has proven to be anything but. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The current bout of inflation seems to have taken the markets and Fed, and everyone else who viewed it as transitory, by surprise. Jonathan Dash, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 Central bank textbooks see supply shocks’ effect on inflation as transitory so long as the public doesn’t expect permanently higher future inflation. Nick Timiraos, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2022 Inflation, which some economists initially thought would be transitory, has endured much longer than expected. Colin Lodewick, Fortune, 29 June 2022 Gates is careful to emphasize that term, and not ownership, recognizing that possession of any wonderful thing is transitory. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 July 2022 To many, the transitory inflation scenario seems too optimistic. Paul Swartz, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Middle English transitorie, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin transitorius, from Latin, of or allowing passage, from transire
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
transitory
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- temporary
- transient
- flash
- brief
- fleeting
- ephemeral
- passing
- evanescent
- momentary
- impermanent
- deciduous
- fugacious
- short-lived
- short
- little
- fugitive
- acting
- short-term
- interim
- provisional
- shortish
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- permanent
- eternal
- lasting
- enduring
- everlasting
- perpetual
- immortal
- timeless
- unending
- deathless
- endless
- persistent
- lifelong
- undying
- ceaseless
- durable
- long-lived
- indestructible
- dateless
- continuing
- imperishable
- indefectible
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of transitory are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, momentary, and transient. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.
Although the words ephemeral and transitory have much in common, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.
The meanings of evanescent and transitory largely overlap; however, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.
Both fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.
While in some cases nearly identical to transitory, momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.
While the synonyms transient and transitory are close in meaning, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.