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.
Reputation systems also struggle when an artifact is new, short-lived or slightly different from anything seen before. — Ken Ammon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026 This system will be short-lived since it’s expected to slide inland near the Texas-Louisiana border by Monday night or Tuesday morning, according to the National Hurricane Center. — Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 However, their post-wedding trip was short-lived, as Kelce needed to return to Kansas City for training camp and preseason commitments ahead of the 2026 NFL season. — Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026 Forecasters said the system is expected to be short-lived because of hostile environmental conditions starting on Friday that will prevent it from developing further. — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 Aug. 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 5 Sep. 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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