evanescent
Say it: ev-uh-NESS-unt /ˌiːvəˈnɛsənt/ · adjective
What “evanescent” means
Fading away very quickly.
More precisely: Quickly fading from sight, memory or existence.
Example: “Viral trends are evanescent; by next month nobody will remember this one.”
When to use it
In formal or literary writing, for sights, feelings or experiences that quickly disappear.
Similar words
fleeting, transient, vanishing
Where it comes from
Latin evanescere, 'to vanish'.
Quick check
Your breath makes a pale cloud in the cold air, then disappears almost immediately. How would you describe it?
evanescent or enduring?
Show the answer
evanescent
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