1
as in temporary
intended to last, continue, or serve for a limited time
built an impermanent structure to serve for the archaeologists' living quarters during the dig
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flash
lasting only for a short time
a summer romance that was an impermanent fancy, quickly forgotten
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 impermanent
By integrating the imperfect and impermanent approach known as wabi-sabi, designer Divya Panwar gave this 732-square-foot apartment in Pune, India, a sensual touch.
5.
—
Anna-Lena Reith, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2024
Prior to colonization in 1919, Hutus and Tutsi were impermanent economic class categories, likely determined by the number of cattle individuals owned.
—Anneliese M. Schenk-Day, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024
For 20 years, Sinologists have been rightly pointing out the strengths that have helped China avoid pitfalls common to comparable economies and polities, but the pitfalls are still real while the strengths are impermanent.
—Andrew Gilholm, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2017
Most kids who receive gender-affirming care are treated with impermanent courses of action such as speech therapy, puberty blockers or hormone treatments.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Anna-Lena Reith, Architectural Digest, 13 Oct. 2024
Prior to colonization in 1919, Hutus and Tutsi were impermanent economic class categories, likely determined by the number of cattle individuals owned.
—Anneliese M. Schenk-Day, The Conversation, 5 Apr. 2024
For 20 years, Sinologists have been rightly pointing out the strengths that have helped China avoid pitfalls common to comparable economies and polities, but the pitfalls are still real while the strengths are impermanent.
—Andrew Gilholm, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2017
Most kids who receive gender-affirming care are treated with impermanent courses of action such as speech therapy, puberty blockers or hormone treatments.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 23 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for impermanent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for impermanent
Adjective
-
The creation of a temporary Palestinian administration of 15 to 20 people is being discussed, including with Israel.—
Aya Batrawy,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2025
-
In that scenario, patches would begin appearing on jerseys almost immediately, and temporary signage would be installed on the stadium currently known as Nationals Park within a few weeks.—
Brett Knight,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — this guy is the real deal.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
-
The German figures come a day before the scheduled release of flash inflation data for the euro area, which will be closely watched by investors for guidance on the odds of another interest rate cut from the European Central Bank.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
-
Gaethje won the interim UFC lightweight crown in May 2020 with a knockout win over Tony Ferguson.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
-
The company said McMullen’s conduct was not related to its financial performance, operations or reporting and did not involve any Kroger associates. Kroger will conduct a search for its next CEO, with Sargent agreeing to remain as interim CEO until someone is appointed to the role permanently.—
Michelle Chapman,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As a result, his answers are brief and not all that stimulating.—
Kevin Kurz,
The Athletic,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The brief hearing, which focused on thorny jurisdictional issues, drew hundreds of demonstrators to the federal courthouse in lower Manhattan to denounce the Saturday arrest of Khalil, a permanent U.S. resident who is married to an American citizen.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The pod, believed to be comprised of Bigg's or transient whales, was spotted visiting Elliott Bay, seemingly to take a bite out of its aviation population.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA TODAY,
6 Mar. 2025
-
The threat of tornadoes is most significant in southern Mississippi and southern Louisiana, where thunderstorms have already led to some severe wind gusts and transient circulations.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Related Articles Now, Detroit, which has gone from one of the league’s most disappointing teams to its one of its hottest after hiring a name-brand coach in Todd McLellan, cleared some salary cap space ahead of the trade deadline, while the Ducks plugged a transitory hole in their goalie pipeline.—
Andrew Knoll,
Orange County Register,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Some Republican economists also dismissed the idea that the fiscal stimulus would be inflationary, and financial markets suggested that investors believed that inflation would be transitory.—
Jason Furman,
Foreign Affairs,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Castro’s relationship to Camacho is peculiar, in the way that not many in the industry had the chance to meet this ephemeral talent.—
Griselda Flores,
Billboard,
25 Feb. 2025
-
The first wave of such video art involved documenting performances, dance being after all an ephemeral art form.—
Beatrice Loayza,
ARTnews.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The media scrutiny on Forest has increased exponentially with each passing week that their unexpected Champions League qualification challenge has been maintained.—
Paul Taylor,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The Toyota was pushed into the far left lane, and debris from the crash damaged a passing Mercedes.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Impermanent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/impermanent. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share