terminal 1 of 2

Definition of terminalnext

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

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
Freight cars moved 9% faster, terminal dwell time (the time railcars were sitting and not hauling) improved 11% and fuel efficiency hit a new record. Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 26 May 2026 There is much to mourn in this epic two-hander, which was inspired by the letters shared between terminal breast cancer patient Makiko Mayano and medical anthropologist Maho Isono, but few recent movies, or few movies at all, have been so rigorously insistent upon the reasons for hope. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 May 2026
Noun
The right pieces are comfortable enough for long flights, security lines, and terminal walks but look put together. Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 30 May 2026 Then, in 2025, officials opened another 17-lane security checkpoint on the East side of the terminal. Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for terminal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for terminal
Adjective
  • Arsenal fans flock to final Few people understand Arsenal’s global fanbase like Smith – a man who has fostered a community of listeners from around the world from his home in the United States.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
  • Ogwumike’s clutch shot was needed because the Sparks (4-3) squandered an eight-point lead in the final 4½ minutes.
    Daily News, Daily News, 30 May 2026
Adjective
  • Hurricane Andrew — the lethal 1992 storm that almost always gets invoked as a cautionary tale — struck during a relatively quiet year and though fierce, was puny by comparison.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
  • Throughout the game, players can create distractions and temporarily scare off the dinosaurs using non-lethal weaponry.
    Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • An oil depot in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia was also struck, Zelenskyy said on social media.
    Bloomberg, Fortune, 6 June 2026
  • Fuel supplies squeezed Russian emergency services acknowledged Saturday that a fire had broken out at the oil depot in Krasnodar.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 6 June 2026
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
  • Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched a large-scale deadly attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Tuesday, damaging residential buildings, authorities said, as part of a broad offensive on targets across Ukraine.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 2 June 2026
  • High levels of rotavirus, a potentially deadly virus, have been detected in wastewater in the Boise area, testing shows.
    Hali Smith June 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 June 2026
Adjective
  • Launched in Taiwan last month to the sound of drums and a traditional lion dance, the 21,000-ton civilian vessel connects the northern Taiwan port of Keelung with the island of Ishigaki, in southwestern Japan’s idyllic Okinawa prefecture.
    Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
  • That last line, even seventy years later, even after the seeming complete commodification of all dissent under the reign of King Algorithm, still reads as shocking, as liberatory.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Adjective
  • Iyo Sky, Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend squared off in a fatal four-way match with a spot in the semifinals waiting for the winner.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
  • Underscoring the stakes for Louisville residents is the March fatal shooting of a 28-year-old woman named Katelyn Hall, who was experiencing a mental health crisis when police gunned her down in her own apartment.
    Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
Adjective
  • During the post-closing ceremony panel, the jury president showed a sense of humor when discussing the challenges of serving as the leading member of the voting committee for a prestigious film festival, like being away from the phones all morning.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 23 May 2026
  • This is covered in a standard inspection, often called a pre-drywall or pre-closing inspection.
    Ryan Brennan May 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Terminal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/terminal. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.

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