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terminal

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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

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 terminal
Adjective
In real life, Gibson raised funds for Joshua Schwarz, who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2013 at age 5. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 7 Feb. 2025 New Orleans-born and Baton Rouge-raised Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s, donated $1 million to Walker’s Imaginarium, which will be a first-of-its-kind interactive children’s museum within the hospital that’s named after Walker Beery, who fought terminal brain cancer before his death. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 7 Feb. 2025
Noun
The company also completed the sale of its terminal in Birmingham, Alabama, for $47.5 million, recording a pretax gain of $30.7 million. Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2025 Additionally, in September last year, Ukrainian forces downed a Russian drone that had a Starlink terminal integrated with its systems, raising questions as to how secure Starlink's operations during the Ukraine war are. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for terminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminal
Adjective
  • There are seven championship games on Saturday, including Oaks Christian taking on Newport Harbor in the Open Division final at 12:10 p.m. … Corona, ranked No. 1 by The Times, opens its high school baseball season on Saturday at 11 a.m. at home against Los Osos.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2025
  • While no final decision has been made on Hooters' potential bankruptcy, the chain could face restaurant closures in the months ahead.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Chris Wood is in lethal goalscoring form, while goalkeeper Matz Sels has notched 10 clean sheets this season — just one behind Liverpool’s record of 11.
    Julia Ranney, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Glossip nearly receives lethal injection Glossip has had nine separate execution dates scheduled and has nearly been executed several times.
    Sean Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Last year, Kyiv performed more than 80 drone attacks on Russian oil refineries and depots and have continued to attempt to injure Russia's economy, both in terms of war funding and trade, this year.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The plans, drawn up by Miller Architects and Builders of St. Cloud, show what the city administrator said was an attempt to meld history and aesthetics with functionality in a building that will resemble the old Litchfield train depot.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 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
  • The deadly blaze erupted Saturday just before 2 p.m. near Fenwick Street, officials told WFSB-TV.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Armed gangs now control approximately 80 percent of the capital, Port-au-Prince, carrying out kidnappings, extortion, and deadly clashes with security forces.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
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
  • Gordon Cordeiro had his freedom secured on Friday after a judge ordered him released in light of new DNA evidence that led to the overturning of his conviction in the 1994 fatal shooting of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui.
    Landon Mion, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025
  • Mangione is facing several charges, including murder and terrorism, across three different jurisdictions in connection with Thompson's fatal shooting outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4.
    Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • One of your collective super powers is your genuine love of movies – from big tentpoles to specialty titles – your dedication, expertise and infectious fandom – are responsible for so many of our big wins.
    Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Marking his debut single under his new signing with Rimas Entertainment, the Puerto Rican artist delivers an infectious tropical tune with percussion, trombones, trumpets, and more, while his flirty vocals sing about a guy who’s trying to impress a girl with his English-speaking skills.
    Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Terminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminal. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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