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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," 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 final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, 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 last
Adjective
But his baseball career hit a speed bump last year. Dave Melton, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2025 Combined, both devices are worth £158 ($203) and Samsung has also discounted last year’s flagship by £100 ($129). Janhoi McGregor, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
The series also follows Sally Mott, #15, a rookie on the Spark Performance team and recent high school graduate focused on finding lasting success in race car driving. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 21 Mar. 2025 The chaos in air travel caused by a fire at an electrical substation supplying the airport could last days, according to aviation experts. John Liu, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • In their final game in purple and gold Johnson ended up scoring 24 second-half points on 8-of-9 shooting, and led all scorers with 28 points and Morrow had 15 points and seven rebounds.
    Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The money flows directly to each conference for every game its teams play in the tournament before the final.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Nor is there any conclusive evidence on dosing and timing for supplements.
    Sarah Anzlovar, MS, Verywell Health, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Stone, as he's done before without providing conclusive evidence, took aim at the Central Intelligence Agency.
    Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • About the only surprise Friday night in the championship game of the Boras Classic South was La Mirada preventing Corona from tying a state record for most consecutive shutouts.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Legal scholars have said there is little legal precedent for Trump's war on Big Law, which has created a chilling effect across the legal community, and most will certainly have a chilling effect on his opponents who will need legal representation against him.
    Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It’s supposed to be a joyous occasion, when families gather for feasts and purchase new clothes for children — but most of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinians are just trying to survive.
    Tia Goldenberg, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2025
  • It’s supposed to be a joyous occasion when families feast and purchase new clothes for children, but most of Gaza’s 2 million people are just trying to survive.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But despite Tuesday’s result, Musk remains undeterred in his political ambitions.
    Will Steakin, ABC News, 3 Apr. 2025
  • The official said Canada and Mexico were omitted because tariffs the U.S. previously imposed on both countries remain in effect.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 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 arrest and recent imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent shockwaves through Turkey, marking a decisive shift toward full autocracy.
    Bilal Bilici, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Sending pinch-runner Jason Heyward from first base to third base in the decisive four-run seventh inning, Tatis peppered reliever Hector Neris’ sinker to center field.
    Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • And neither a coach nor his communications staff can control the prevailing narrative in outside media, or prevent anything outside a closed locker room from being seen, heard, recorded and posted by somebody and becoming viral, as was the case in the tunnel in Raleigh’s Lenovo Center.
    Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2025
  • And the prevailing opinion across the NHL is that Olivier is the toughest fighter in the league.
    Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

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