transient

[tran-shuhnt, -zhuhnt, -zee-uhnt] / ˈtræn ʃənt, -ʒənt, -zi ənt /

ADJECTIVE

temporary

Synonyms

STRONGEST

ephemeral fleeting short-term transitory

STRONG

brief flash fly-by-night flying fugitive passing short temporal volatile

WEAK

changeable deciduous emigrating evanescent flitting fugacious going by impermanent insubstantial migrating momentary moving provisional short-lived transmigratory unstable vacating

Antonyms

STRONGEST

enduring lasting lengthy long long-lived permanent perpetual

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The system is also only the second known long-period radio transient found to produce regular X-rays.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

"Many of the affected areas are mining towns with highly mobile and transient populations. This mobility increases risk as people move between communities and across borders," says Lang.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

It looks like these are transient, nonstructural issues that should improve over the next few quarters.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Authorities immediately located 45-year-old Patrick Keys, a known transient in the area, and arrested him without incident, Bundy said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

We are the delicate part, transient and vulnerable as cilia.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Vocabulary lists containing transient

The Declaration of Independence

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