SHORT-LIVED Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlivd

Definition of short-lived

as in brief

lasting only for a short time the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time

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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 short-lived But her time with the thoughtful gift would be short-lived, as another fan intercepted the throw and grabbed the towel from her clutches. — Alex Gonzalez, VIBE.com, 18 Sep. 2026 However, the effects were typically short-lived, occurring in the days and weeks after the explosion and confined to the area around ground zero, the test site. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2026 But advocates for people in poverty warned that the gains might be short-lived. — Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026 Godwit parents brood their chicks, alert them to danger, lead them to hiding places, and (in a dramatic and short-lived personality shift) aggressively squawk at and harry their potential predators. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short-lived

Recent Examples of Synonyms for short-lived

Adjective

With this fast-approaching launch date and the program’s brief approval window, travelers could have an Argentine passport in hand in a matter of months.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
The onetime estate of Dolly Parton, who passed away in August at age 80 after a brief battle with cancer, has surfaced for sale in the exclusive Bird Streets neighborhood of Los Angeles for the first time in a quarter-century.

— Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of brief

Adjective

Consequently, allowing road vehicles to utilize red diesel without penalty would effectively function as a temporary tax reduction for diesel consumers.

— , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Typically made in days or weeks, emergency orders are designed to be temporary, lasting only as cases continue to play out in lower courts.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of temporary

Adjective

San Antonio, Texas, was under a flash-flood warning through Thursday evening, and the city urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

— Fabiola Sanchez, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
On Monday, the flash-flood threat is lower, but locally heavy downpours are possible for parts of the Mid-Atlantic later in the day.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of flash

Adjective

Back in February, Wyandotte County commissioners decided that the local government would direct a portion of its future sales, use and transient guest tax revenues to pay for the Chiefs development.

— Sofi Zeman October 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
Davis, West Sacramento and unincorporated Sacramento County already charge a 12% transient occupancy tax, and Measure X would bring Yolo County’s rate in line with those jurisdictions.

— Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of transient

Adjective

Offensively, the team has put together a really strong passing game.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
The difference could be former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki, who figures to play a more prominent role in the passing game with the Bengals hurting at wide receiver.

— Keven Lerner, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of passing

Adjective

So many people point to Stop Making Sense as the benchmark for how to transform a live performance into something more than an ephemeral moment happening in front of a lens.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
The event at the 12-acre West Midtown art center, which this year will take place Saturday, features dozens of artists, live music, open studios and other ephemeral experiences.

— Tess Malone, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of ephemeral

Browse Nearby Words

shortish

short-lived

shortly

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“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/short-lived. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of short-lived

adjective

Example Sentences

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