terminal 1 of 2

terminal

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective terminal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of terminal are final, last, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When would final be a good substitute for terminal?

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

final day of school

When is it sensible to use last instead of terminal?

The meanings of last and terminal 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

Where would ultimate be a reasonable alternative to terminal?

The words ultimate and terminal can be used in similar contexts, 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

Examples 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 terminal
Adjective
One is his aunt, who raised him after the deaths of his parents, and who has come to a city hospital to be treated for what may be terminal cancer. Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 Physicians contend daily with the gravest manifestations of human frailty—cancer, paralysis, and terminal illness to name just a few. Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
Follow more of our reporting on An inside look at Miami Travel A Florida airport just opened a one-airline terminal with 3 restaurants and a pet room January 16, 2025 11:31 AM Food This luxury rooftop restaurant is finally ready to open on Miami Beach. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2025 The terminal is still at comfortable temperature levels. Ross Levitt, CNN, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for terminal 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminal
Adjective
  • Political debate around the ERA has ramped up in Biden's final months in office.
    Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Ohio State fans’ visceral reaction to losing to Michigan was in part because we have been conditioned for generations to believe a two-loss team, particularly when one of those losses occurs in the final game, signals the end of the season.
    Jason Lloyd, The Athletic, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Key Background The lethal Los Angeles wildfires caused the Oscars nominations announcement to be delayed twice, and the voting period was extended by several days.
    Conor Murray, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025
  • This is just one high-profile example of how depression and anxiety disorders, ineffectively treated, can have lethal consequences.
    Kara Margolis, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • These targets include airfields, military plants, ammunition depots and warehouses, and oil hubs and refineries.
    Kristen Waggoner, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Ukraine attacked the same region last week and claimed to have struck an oil depot serving an airbase for Russian nuclear bomber planes, causing a huge fire that took five days to put out.
    Reuters, CNN, 14 Jan. 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
  • Heading into his late 30s, Lil Joe has been a road warrior in an astonishing and sometimes harrowing life’s journey, gaining considerable recognition among his kind, which in the wild is having a tough time these days with Florida’s deadly waters.
    Kevin Spear, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Those feats, economists say, are even more impressive considering the nation was deep in the throes of a deadly, economy-scarring pandemic when Biden took office.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The House passed a bill last year that would have, among other things, required a majority of practicing lawyers on the commission.
    Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Just last year in 2024, Texas was on Forbes’ list of the cities with the worst drivers, specifically talking about Dallas and Fort Worth.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But as Trump prepares to retake the White House Monday, Democratic leaders have highlighted other results that show November's losses are not fatal.
    Stephen Fowler, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
  • In subsequent comments, Cal Fire said no emissions or smog inspections were conducted and warned that a vehicle failure in a fire zone could be fatal.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Second, dairy cows produce large amounts of the virus in milk, which is highly infectious.
    Kimberly Dodd, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Onya’s original lyrics were fire and her energy was infectious.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 10 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near terminal

Cite this Entry

“Terminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminal. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on terminal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!