Which word means lasting a short time?

• A. esoteric
• B. emphemeral
• C. exonerate
• D. euphemism

Answer: (B)

Ephemeral describes something that lasts only a short time—fleeting, brief, or transitory. It’s the kind of duration you’d use for a momentary phenomenon, like a rainbow that appears briefly or a trend that fades quickly. The other terms don’t fit this sense of brief duration: esoteric means understood by a small, specialized group; exonerate means to clear someone of blame; euphemism is a mild or indirect expression to replace something harsh. The correct word is ephemeral (note the spelling with “ph” after the m).