denouement

noun

de·​noue·​ment ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmäⁿ How to pronounce denouement (audio)
dā-ˈnü-ˌmä
variants or less commonly dénouement
1
: the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work
In the denouement, the two lovers commit suicide.
2
: the outcome of a complex sequence of events

Examples of denouement in a Sentence

In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves.
Recent Examples on the Web Baltimore’s faithful, wearing beanies and coats and clutching onto hand-warmers and cold memories from the 2019 season’s disappointing denouement, fretted. Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2024 The denouement, with jingle legend Paul Anka saving the day with a giant-defeating earworm, is a neat way to end things. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 24 Nov. 2023 The trial for two men accused of killing Run-DMC’s pioneering DJ in 2002 began its denouement in court on Tuesday as the prosecution made its closing arguments. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2024 There is no catharsis to this story, no dramatic denouement. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 Feb. 2024 There is no realistic prospect in the near term of a dramatic, uplifting denouement to the conflict that validates each side’s sacrifices and provides relief and hope for the future. Aaron David Miller, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2023 The crises of the 1970s—the oil shock, the Watergate scandal, and the bloody denouement of the Vietnam War—would take their toll on philanthropies along with other liberal institutions. Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024 And when the action reached its denouement in the high mountains, Vingegaard came to the front and set a pace for Kuss. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2023 Her return to form in the denouement was heartening and a relief. Cameron K McEwan, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'denouement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French dénouement, literally, untying, from Middle French desnouement, from desnouer to untie, from Old French desnoer, from des- de- + noer to tie, from Latin nodare, from nodus knot — more at node

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of denouement was in 1705

Dictionary Entries Near denouement

Cite this Entry

“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denouement. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

denouement

noun
de·​noue·​ment ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmän How to pronounce denouement (audio) dā-ˈnü-ˌ How to pronounce denouement (audio)
1
: the final solution or untangling of the conflicts or difficulties that make up the plot of a literary work
2
: the outcome of a complicated or difficult situation or sequence of events
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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