What Is Another Way to Say “Short-Lived”?

Looking for synonyms for short-lived? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say short-lived.

  • Fleeting
  • Transitory
  • Ephemeral
  • Momentary
  • Brief
  • Temporary
  • Passing
  • Transient
  • Evanescent
  • Impermanent
  • Quick
  • Fugacious
  • Flash in the pan
  • Short-term
  • Here today, gone tomorrow
  • Fly-by-night
  • Rapid
  • Meteoric
  • Short-duration
  • Short-term

Want to learn how to say short-lived professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Fleeting

Appropriate Use: Often used to describe experiences or emotions that pass quickly.
Example: The success of the project was a fleeting moment in the company’s long history.

2. Transitory

Appropriate Use: Suitable for describing situations or states that are temporary.
Example: The market instability is transitory and expected to stabilize soon.

3. Ephemeral

Appropriate Use: Used for things that last for a very short time, emphasizing their transient nature.
Example: The startup experienced an ephemeral surge in popularity.

4. Momentary

Appropriate Use: Used to describe something that lasts for only a moment.
Example: There was a momentary increase in productivity after the new policy was implemented.

5. Brief

Appropriate Use: Applicable to a wide range of situations where the duration is short.
Example: The CEO gave a brief overview of the company’s financial status.

6. Temporary

Appropriate Use: Suitable for situations that are not permanent.
Example: The company implemented a temporary hiring freeze.

7. Passing

Appropriate Use: Often used to describe trends or phases.
Example: The industry expert dismissed the new technology as a passing fad.

8. Transient

Appropriate Use: Typically used for temporary or changing states.
Example: The transient nature of the digital marketing trends keeps the industry dynamic.

9. Evanescent

Appropriate Use: Used for things that vanish or dissipate quickly.
Example: The evanescent rise in stock prices was unexpected.

10. Impermanent

Appropriate Use: Suitable for situations or conditions that are not lasting.
Example: The impermanent policy changes were later replaced with more sustainable ones.

11. Quick

Appropriate Use: General use for anything happening rapidly.
Example: The quick expansion of the company led to unforeseen challenges.

12. Fugacious

Appropriate Use: Used in literary or formal contexts for something that is fleeting.
Example: The fugacious popularity of the product didn’t translate into long-term success.

13. Flash in the pan

Appropriate Use: Informal, for something that shows potential but fades quickly.
Example: The new software was a flash in the pan, quickly overshadowed by better alternatives.

14. Short-term

Appropriate Use: Commonly used in business and planning contexts.
Example: The short-term benefits of the merger will soon give way to long-term gains.

15. Here today, gone tomorrow

Appropriate Use: Informal, for things or situations that are not expected to last.
Example: Many small startups are here today, gone tomorrow.

16. Fly-by-night

Appropriate Use: Often used disparagingly to describe businesses or operations lacking stability or reliability.
Example: The fly-by-night vendors in the industry undermine market confidence.

17. Rapid

Appropriate Use: Suitable for describing something happening quickly or in a short time.
Example: The rapid turnaround of the project was impressive.

18. Meteoric

Appropriate Use: Used for something that happens very quickly and impressively, but may not last.
Example: The young entrepreneur’s rise in the business world was meteoric.

19. Short-duration

Appropriate Use: A more formal way of specifying a short time period.
Example: The short-duration marketing campaign yielded unexpected results.

20. Short-term

Appropriate Use: Commonly used in business and strategic contexts.
Example: The company is focusing on short-term goals for immediate revenue growth.

Linda Brown