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final

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective final contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of final are last, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When would last be a good substitute for final?

The meanings of last and final largely overlap; however, last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book
last news we had of him

When is it sensible to use terminal instead of final?

While in some cases nearly identical to final, terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than final?

The synonyms ultimate and final are sometimes interchangeable, but ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

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 final
Adjective
Also, neither of us are that physically fit, so maybe everyone's going to take us to the final. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 29 Jan. 2025 For that, an amendment was required, and its final ratification, in December, 1865, may have freed more slaves than the previous four years of fighting. Scott Spillman, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2025
Noun
Butler once again led the Heat to the NBA Finals in 2023, becoming the second No. 8 seed to ever reach the finals. Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 Andrea Jaeger, who reached two Grand Slam finals and was the world No. 2 at 16, retired at 20, just as Austin first did, with a shoulder injury. Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for final 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
Adjective
  • Bad teammates can poison a locker room, and in a long stretch of games last year the Bears looked like a team that expected to lose.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2025
  • True Religion started planning Own Your True last fall, well before the acquisition.
    David Moin, WWD, 6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Heavy rains and thunderstorms are now forecast through Tuesday (Jan. 28), though the sudden showers have also triggered flood warnings in certain areas.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 28 Jan. 2025
  • The filmmaker dropped hints about certain archetypes that populate the movie, the musician channeling magic and the mystical qualities of twins, among them.
    Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Damien made 14 threes to advance to the semifinals of the Baseline League tournament.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Boswell, an Eagle Mountain-Saginaw ISD school located in Fort Worth, had its furthest playoff run in the 1976-77 season when the Pioneers advanced to the state semifinals.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The worst aviation disaster in almost a quarter century is one of the first tests of Donald Trump’s second administration.
    The Editors, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2025
  • SpaceX also criticized delays in licensing Starship test flights last year.
    Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Two were taken to Ryder Trauma Center in critical and serious condition; the third is in stable condition.
    Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2025
  • They are thought to promote weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness and supporting more stable blood sugar levels after eating.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The semifinals are set for March 2 and the championship game will be March 8.
    Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Andy Reid celebrates after the Kansas City Chiefs' AFC championship game victory over the Buffalo Bills last month.
    Andrew Greif, NBC News, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Every two years, a representative sampling of fourth graders and eighth graders in the United States takes the NAEP exam, which offers a snapshot of students’ math and reading progress.
    Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The national exam results also show growing inequality: While the highest-performing students have started to regain lost ground, lower-performing students are falling further behind.
    CBS News, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near final

Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on final

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