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Glite Dictionary
fugacious

fugacious

9.9
Present for only a short time
  • adjective
  • /fjuˈɡeɪʃəs/
  • Formal
translation icon : efímero
  • Some flowers bloom in a fugacious burst of color before fading within days.

Examples

  • Oh, how fugacious these memories are!

  • The beauty of the autumn leaves is fugacious and must be enjoyed while it lasts.

  • His fame proved fugacious, as the world quickly moved on to the next sensation.

  • The beauty of the sunset is fugacious.

  • The fugacious beauty of the sunset left everyone in awe as it quickly faded away.

  • Their happiness was fugacious, lasting only until the end of summer.

  • The flowers bloom in spring but are often fugacious, wilting before summer arrives.

Synonyms

fleeting
vsfugacious
66 6.3

Lasting only a short time

refers to short duration without focusing on speed
short-lived
vsfugacious
49 3.9

Lasting only for a short time

is the general brief sense without implying lifespan
momentary
vsfugacious
44 4.8

Lasting only a very short time

describes short periods generally, not only single instants
transient
vsfugacious
38 7.0

Lasting only a short time and not permanent

focuses on briefness rather than nonpermanence or status
ephemeral
vsfugacious
17 8.6

Lasting only a very short time

is used for short periods without stressing extreme brevity
transitory
vsfugacious
11 6.8

Lasting only a short time

highlights shortness rather than formal non permanence
passing
vsfugacious
4.9

Lasting only for a short time

can emphasize rapid end or simply brief duration

Antonyms

perpetual
93 5.8

Lasting for a very long time without stopping

enduring
1 4.2

Continuing for a long time without fading

How Brief

momentary
44 4.8
fleeting
66 6.3
fugacious
  • Formal
9.9
short-lived
49 3.9
brief
587 2.0

Surface Forms

fugacious positive

Morphology

fugacious = fugac + ious

Built from a Latinate combining form 'fugac-' plus the adjective suffix '-ious'; the root is not a productive or recognizable English base for most learners, so the meaning 'fleeting' cannot be reliably derived from known English words.

Etymology

The word fugacious comes from the Latin fugere, which means 'to flee' or 'run away' and appears in the familiar word fugitive. So something fugacious 'flees' quickly and lasts only a short time.