short-lived

adjective

ˈshȯrt-ˈlivd How to pronounce short-lived (audio)
also
-ˈlīvd How to pronounce short-lived (audio)
Synonyms of short-livednext
: not living or lasting long
short-lived insects
short-lived joy

Synonyms of short-lived

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Examples of short-lived in a Sentence

the skier's triumph turned out to be short-lived, as the next competitor bested her time
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nearly all showers will be lighter and short-lived, but the clouds will linger Monday with cooler autumnal temperatures to boot. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Her tenure was short-lived because that same year, the United Nations elected her to serve on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, a body established to adjudicate those responsible for the Rwandan genocide. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The raise suggests investors aren't deterred by Beijing's unprecedented order to block Meta's short-lived $2 billion acquisition. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 Tornadoes from tropical systems can pop up with little notice but tend to be short-lived. — Kate S. Petersen, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for short-lived

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short-lived was in 1588

Rhymes for short-lived

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Browse Nearby Words

short list
short-lived
short-livedness
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Cite this Entry

“Short-lived.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short-lived. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

short-lived

adjective
ˈshȯrt-ˈlīvd, 
-ˌlivd
: living or lasting only a short time
short-lived blooms
short-lived joy
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