FUGITIVE Synonyms: 115 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fugitive' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fugitive are ephemeral , evanescent , fleeting , momentary , transient , and transitory . While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult. // let a fugitive smile flit across his face // fleeting moments of joy

Q: When is 'ephemeral' a more appropriate choice than 'fugitive'?

The meanings of ephemeral and fugitive largely overlap; however, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration. // many slang words are ephemeral

Q: When is it sensible to use 'evanescent' instead of 'fugitive'?

In some situations, the words evanescent and fugitive are roughly equivalent. However, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality. // the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

Q: When can 'momentary' be used instead of 'fugitive'?

While in some cases nearly identical to fugitive , momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state. // my feelings of guilt were only momentary

Q: Where would 'transient' be a reasonable alternative to 'fugitive'?

The words transient and fugitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay. // a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

Q: In what contexts can 'transitory' take the place of 'fugitive'?

The words transitory and fugitive can be used in similar contexts, but transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end. // fame in the movies is transitory

fugitive 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfyü-jə-tiv

Definition of fugitive

as in elusive

hard to find, capture, or isolate that fugitive trait called artistic creativity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in flash

lasting only for a short time had fugitive thoughts of leaving town after finishing high school but never acted on them

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nomadic

traveling from place to place a small fugitive circus that traveled the countryside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fugitive

2 of 2

noun

as in alien

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fugitive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of fugitive are ephemeral, evanescent, fleeting, momentary, transient, and transitory. While all these words mean "lasting or staying only a short time," fugitive and fleeting imply passing so quickly as to make apprehending difficult.

let a fugitive smile flit across his face

fleeting moments of joy

When is ephemeral a more appropriate choice than fugitive?

The meanings of ephemeral and fugitive largely overlap; however, ephemeral implies striking brevity of life or duration.

many slang words are ephemeral

When is it sensible to use evanescent instead of fugitive?

In some situations, the words evanescent and fugitive are roughly equivalent. However, evanescent suggests a quick vanishing and an airy or fragile quality.

the story has an evanescent touch of whimsy that is lost in translation

When can momentary be used instead of fugitive?

While in some cases nearly identical to fugitive, momentary suggests coming and going quickly and therefore being merely a brief interruption of a more enduring state.

my feelings of guilt were only momentary

Where would transient be a reasonable alternative to fugitive?

The words transient and fugitive are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, transient applies to what is actually short in its duration or stay.

a hotel catering primarily to transient guests

In what contexts can transitory take the place of fugitive?

The words transitory and fugitive can be used in similar contexts, but transitory applies to what is by its nature or essence bound to change, pass, or come to an end.

fame in the movies is transitory

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of fugitive

Adjective

With fervent editing, careful scene geography, and assured direction, the walk before the run can be tense enough to send viewers crawling out of their seats, willing the fugitive onscreen to get a move on already. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026 Tom Chittum, the former associate deputy director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, told ABC News that fugitive operations are dangerous for law enforcement. — Luke Barr, ABC News, 13 July 2026

Noun

After a coup leaves her family dead, Azaleah becomes a fugitive whose very presence promises disaster, according to the book’s synopsis. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 One month after the arrest warrant was issued, Satary failed to appear at a court hearing in Louisiana, and he was then deemed a fugitive. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fugitive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fugitive

Adjective

Even more elusive — so much so that after decades of searching, scientists have detected only a few hundred of them — are geoneutrinos.

— James Dinneen, Quanta Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026
Effective communication is a critical yet often elusive element in R&D, particularly clinical trials.

— Gary Zammit, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of elusive

Adjective

Parts of Connecticut and New York, including the Albany area, remained under flash-flood warnings on Wednesday morning.

— Kenton Gewecke, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Slow-moving storms may pose flash-flood risks across large portions of North, West, Central, South and East Texas beginning on Sunday, June 12, with the main threats expected early to mid-week.

— Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Definition of flash

Adjective

According to the nonprofit Survival International, the remaining Kawahiva are nomadic hunter-gatherers who survived attacks and disease and continue to avoid contact with outsiders.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
The military has also been stretched by efforts to combat armed gangs carrying out mass kidnappings for ransom, and fighting between semi-nomadic herdsmen and settled farmers in states across the center of the country.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of nomadic

Noun

Speaking of Sugar’s caseload, Season 2’s improvements are evident beyond the inevitable advantages of outing him as an alien.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
How can a journalist get grip on a community when they’re hired and then flee, get fired, or become the victim of a space alien abduction?

— Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of alien

Adjective

Dinners take place in traditional nomad tents around the communal fire pit, and range from steaming hot pots with yak meat, mushrooms and tofu to haute-Tibetan tasting menus with wild vegetables in corn foam, tsampa grissini, and lamb shoulder with yak yogurt glaze and salsa verde.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
New this season are nomad-style cooking workshops, starlit movies for younger campers, and sunrise hawk walks.

— Katharina Kotrba, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025

Definition of nomad

Noun

Born in Jerusalem, Said was displaced, along with his refugee family, in 1948, with the founding of Israel.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Arendt worked for Youth Aliyah, which sent Jewish refugee teen-agers, largely unemployable in France, to kibbutzim in Palestine.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of refugee

Adjective

These facilities can support fuel qualification, materials testing, transient behavior studies, and other technical work needed before a first-of-a-kind reactor can enter service.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
Unionization is challenging with a large, disparate and transient group of athletes.

— Justin Williams, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Definition of transient

Browse Nearby Words

fuggy

fugitive

fugitiveness

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“Fugitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fugitive. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of fugitive

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

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The Origin of 'Refugee'

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on fugitive

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A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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Words from the 'Odyssey'

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Games & Quizzes