Vocabulary in context
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Transitory
lasting only for a short time; temporary or fleeting in nature
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Imagine This
Imagine a soap bubble shimmering in sunlight, bright and beautiful, but it pops within moments—the colors vanish as quickly as they appeared.
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Sounds Like
TRAN-sih-TOH-ree
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Looks Like
resembles words like transient and temporary
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Remember This
Originates from Latin transitorius meaning passing or temporary; often used to describe things that quickly pass or change.
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Other Forms
transitorinessnoun
transitorilyadverb
transitoryadjective
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Connect With
ephemeral, transient, fleeting, temporary, evanescent
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Note
Use transitory to emphasize fleeting duration rather than permanence. It can describe assignments, feelings, or conditions that do not last.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The beauty of a sunset is transitory, lasting only a few minutes before the sky darkens.
- In many careers, job security can be transitory, with contracts renewed year by year.
Synonyms
temporaryshort-livedephemeraltransientevanescent
Antonyms
permanentlastingenduring
Etymology
From Latin transitorius, from transire 'to go across, pass over' + suffix -orius; the root trans- means across, indicating something that passes quickly through a period.
Mnemonic
Think of transit: things you experience while in transit pass by quickly—transitory means passing quickly or temporary.
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Quell
verbTo suppress, extinguish, or quiet something such as a disturbance, fear, or unrest, often by use of force, authority, or calming influence.
Ascetic
nounA person who practices severe self-denial or abstains from worldly pleasures, often for religious or spiritual reasons.
Pacifist
nounA person who opposes war and works to promote peace between nations.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Ephemeral
adjectiveLasting for only a short time; short-lived.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
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