ultimatum
noun
ul·ti·ma·tum
ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-təm 
-ˈmä-
-ˈmä-
plural ultimatums or ultimata
ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-tə
-ˈmä-
: a final proposition, condition, or demand
especially
: one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action
Examples of ultimatum in a Sentence
She was given an ultimatum—work harder or lose her job.
issued the ultimatum that the project be finished by the following week, or it would be terminated
Recent Examples on the Web
Taylor Wilson: President Joe Biden has issued an ultimatum to Israel that US support in the Gaza war depends on immediate steps to protect civilians and aid workers.
—
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
In the budget agreement released Sunday, lawmakers clarified that the ultimatum in the Senate’s proposal was no longer on the table.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The letter from the other tribes did not include a similar ultimatum.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
Interns and residents walked off the job on Feb. 20, and most ignored a government ultimatum to return to work by Thursday, or face possible prosecution or suspension of their doctors' licenses.
—Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024
While attempting to return to their present, a cryptic force emerges and traps them on a strange plot of land, giving them a deathly ultimatum in order to escape.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The ultimatum was salient given that Tesla’s monstrous valuation is at least partly based on hopes that Musk would eventually move the company beyond cars to make it into a technology juggernaut.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
The three dozen eyewitnesses CNN spoke with from across Jazira, including survivors and the families of victims, say refusing the RSF’s ultimatum comes at the cost of food, home and safety.
—Pallabi Munsi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The ultimatum drew widespread condemnation, even from within the hard-right government.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2024
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
In the budget agreement released Sunday, lawmakers clarified that the ultimatum in the Senate’s proposal was no longer on the table.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024
The letter from the other tribes did not include a similar ultimatum.
—The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024
Interns and residents walked off the job on Feb. 20, and most ignored a government ultimatum to return to work by Thursday, or face possible prosecution or suspension of their doctors' licenses.
—Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024
While attempting to return to their present, a cryptic force emerges and traps them on a strange plot of land, giving them a deathly ultimatum in order to escape.
—Caroline Brew, Variety, 28 Feb. 2024
The ultimatum was salient given that Tesla’s monstrous valuation is at least partly based on hopes that Musk would eventually move the company beyond cars to make it into a technology juggernaut.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024
The three dozen eyewitnesses CNN spoke with from across Jazira, including survivors and the families of victims, say refusing the RSF’s ultimatum comes at the cost of food, home and safety.
—Pallabi Munsi, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The ultimatum drew widespread condemnation, even from within the hard-right government.
—Yair Rosenberg, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ultimatum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near ultimatum
Cite this Entry
“Ultimatum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ultimatum. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ultimatum
noun
ul·ti·ma·tum
ˌəl-tə-ˈmāt-əm
-ˈmät-
-ˈmät-
plural ultimatums or ultimata
-ə
: a demand that if rejected will bring about an end of peaceful talks and could lead to forceful action
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