Ephemeral rhyme refers to a subtle, transient, or near-rhyme that evokes sonic kinship without strict phonetic identity—such as slant rhyme, eye rhyme, or assonantal echo—creating a fleeting auditory impression that mirrors themes of impermanence, memory, or ambiguity; poets like Emily Dickinson (“soul” / “all”) or Wallace Stevens use such rhymes to suggest connection without closure, allowing resonance to hover just beyond grasp, thereby aligning form with content in meditations on transience, loss, or the ineffable.

Rhyme that quickly fades or dissolves. Modern experimental technique. Contrasts with perfect rhyme. Tip: Listen for near-rhymes that seem to evaporate; creates wistful or uncertain tone.