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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
President Trump, in his final rally before the election, invited Kelly to be one of the guest speakers, underscoring her resurgent influence. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Feb. 2025 The final payment, originally supposed to be the final 20%, is all equity from Taylor. Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
Martin averaged nearly 20 points per game against Boston in the 2023 Eastern Conference finals and hit a career-high seven 3-pointers in the 76ers’ Christmas Day win on Causeway Street. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2025 Before signing a two-year, two-way contract with the Sharks last July, Poturalski helped the Coachella Valley Firebirds reach the finals of the Calder Cup playoffs. Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for final 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
Adjective
  • Two dogs that mauled a 73-year-old woman in Idaho last year had cocaine in their systems, according to pathology reports obtained this week by the Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network.
    Laura A. Bischoff, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had about 1,700 employees late last year.
    Matt Sedensky, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • People rarely are presented as good or bad in certain clothes.
    Julian Randall, Essence, 9 Feb. 2025
  • Many political leaders blame it for the rise of the hard-right party Alternative for Germany, or AfD, which has campaigned relentlessly on deporting certain immigrants and sits second behind the Christian Democrats in national polls.
    Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • One regular-season game remains before St. Charles East opens at 6 p.m. next Tuesday in the Willowbrook Regional semifinals.
    Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Instead of having state semifinals and finals, there are now only championship games.
    Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • From coast to coast, flu activity is very high, according to the CDC, with about 1 in every 3 people who are given a flu test in a clinic or hospital getting a positive result.
    Brenda Goodman and Neha Mukherjee, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Completing a basic hearing test in the app is mandatory during setup, after which each aid is programmed with one of six preset frequency-tuning configurations.
    Christopher Null, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Adjective
  • The Vatican said the 88-year-old pontiff is in stable condition after being admitted to a hospital in Rome last week.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • In Monday's update, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope was in stable condition.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The Eagles' iconic running back Steve Van Buren scored from five yards out and Philadelphia had its first NFL championship.
    Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
  • The Vikings made it to the NFC championship in 2017 (Minneapolis Miracle) with a similar lightning-in-the-bottle QB: Case Keenum.
    Mark Puleo, The Athletic, 18 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The candidates would pay someone to complete the certification exams on their behalf.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Catapult offers an at-home wellness exam that allows members to check their blood pressure, collect a blood sample, log other screening information and meet virtually with a nurse practitioner.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 5 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near final

Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on final

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