the final/last straw

noun

: the last in a series of bad things that happen to make someone very upset, angry, etc.
It had been a difficult week, so when the car broke down, it was the last straw.

Examples of the final/last straw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But at what cost? Wait, why was their wedding controversial? Venetians and Europeans in general have been protesting excessive tourism in their country for a while now, and for Italians, this party is the last straw. Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 June 2025 Despite the mounting chaos, the host tried to keep her cool until Sunday morning delivered the final straw. Ashley Vega, People.com, 29 June 2025 The pending legislation proved the final straw for Moody’s, which in May became the last of the three major credit agencies to downgrade the U.S. from its top rung of borrowers. Greg McKenna, Fortune, 29 June 2025 Her parents are at the other end of the house, addressing an impasse that would seem to be the last straw for various issues that have long been at play; visually, they are framed as though a chasm separates them. Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for the final/last straw

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“The final/last straw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20final%2Flast%20straw. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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!