denouement

noun

variants or less commonly dénouement
plural denouements also dénouements
1
: the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a novel, play, film, etc.
In the novel's denouement, the two hostages escape to freedom.
It is an intentionally unsettling denouement, which is in keeping with the tone and purpose of the entire miniseries.David Wiegand
2
: the outcome of a complex sequence of events
the competition's exciting denouement

Examples of denouement in a Sentence

In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves.
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.
His grand denouement is meant to be a catharsis for a deliberately corrective slice of emotional history. Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 But some fans expressed their disappointment that the grand denouement – the identity of mysterious villain ‘H’ – failed to live up to audience expectations. Caroline Frost, Deadline, 5 Apr. 2025 For the next 53 years, atmospheric drag pulled the probe down slowly but surely, leading to today's dramatic denouement. Mike Wall, Space.com, 10 May 2025 The denouement of his five months as Senate Democratic leader came Thursday afternoon. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for denouement

Word History

Etymology

French dénouement, literally, untying, from Middle French desnouement, from desnouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, from Latin nodare, from nodus knot — more at node

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of denouement was in 1705

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denouement. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

denouement

noun
de·​noue·​ment ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmän How to pronounce denouement (audio) dā-ˈnü-ˌ How to pronounce denouement (audio)
1
: the final solution or untangling of the conflicts or difficulties that make up the plot of a literary work
2
: the outcome of a complicated or difficult situation or sequence of events
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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