ultimate 1 of 2

Definition of ultimatenext

ultimate

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ultimate contrast with its synonyms?

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

When would final be a good substitute for ultimate?

The words final and ultimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

In what contexts can last take the place of ultimate?

While the synonyms last and ultimate are close in meaning, 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 could terminal be used to replace ultimate?

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

terminal phase of a disease

How does the adjective ultimate contrast with its synonyms?

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

When would final be a good substitute for ultimate?

The words final and ultimate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

In what contexts can last take the place of ultimate?

While the synonyms last and ultimate are close in meaning, 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 could terminal be used to replace ultimate?

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

terminal phase of a disease

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 ultimate
Adjective
Was her blindside of Charlie her ultimate undoing in the game? Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026 This is the ultimate anti-people-pleaser move, the final boss in choosing yourself. Jenny Singer, Glamour, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
The ultimate is an off-the-grid, island-hopping kayak camping trip. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 Aug. 2025 Loro Piana was a master class experience in the ultimate of Italian refinement and materiality. Luisa Zargani, WWD, 2 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ultimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ultimate
Adjective
  • The five men face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.
    Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Dive deep into the world of Roomba maintenance with a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to clean your Roomba for maximum efficiency.
    BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In California, gubernatorial primaries place candidates from both parties on the same ballot, with the top two determining the final two candidates.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Kaylee and Summit's history is littered with commitment issues, break-ups, and make-ups, and those old wounds remain evident during the final bonfire.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • That's close to the farthest point in its orbit, which is 252,088 miles away, according to NASA.
    Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
  • At its farthest, the capsule was more than 268,000 miles from Earth.
    Marcia Dunn, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2022
Noun
  • Variable rates may increase after consummation.
    Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
  • If the first four episodes of Bridgerton’s swoon-worthy fourth season were about desperate, hungry yearning, then the final four were more about, er, consummation—complete with secret trysts, steaming hot baths, false identities, and genuinely big shocks.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • That match with Fonseca was power tennis at its utmost.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
  • Guests are pampered in personal huts that provide the utmost in privacy and silence and can choose from a full menu of options, including massages and facials that highlight local traditions and skin-healthy ingredients.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Since then, Beijing cut off most of its official dialogue with Taiwan's government in the capital Taipei and started sending military planes and vessels towards the island on a daily basis.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Because most moviegoers aren’t necessarily familiar with the technical aspects of getting inside a character.
    Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 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
Noun
  • The almond shape is the epitome of sophistication, while the zesty designs bring out the whimsy.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Both men argue one-party Democratic rule of California has destroyed a state once viewed as the epitome of the American dream.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Ultimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ultimate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

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