variants
also dénouement
as in finale
formal
the final part of something (such as a book, a play, or a series of events)
In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves. the competition's exciting denouement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denouement
To be sure, Grey’s novel is a literary protest against the mistreatment of American Indians by the federal government and Christian missionaries, and his original denouement is a little more complicated.
—
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But then things suddenly get very serious when Zem and Salia wind up falling in love, leading to a tragic denouement at the hands of ALMA, followed by an obvious music cue that must have cost a fortune.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Growing up as an American, I was surrounded by cultural narratives that treated the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the denouement of a story, one that began with the attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on V-J Day.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But then things suddenly get very serious when Zem and Salia wind up falling in love, leading to a tragic denouement at the hands of ALMA, followed by an obvious music cue that must have cost a fortune.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Growing up as an American, I was surrounded by cultural narratives that treated the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the denouement of a story, one that began with the attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on V-J Day.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
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Finally, the winner was simply the highest-finishing driver among four remaining title contenders in the season finale.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
-
That’s a far cry from the more recent format, when the final four drivers all competed in a one-race finale for the Cup title.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Reigning semifinalist Westwood is a strong candidate for a better ending, too, returning most of its lineup.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Despite Powell's term as chairman ending, his position as a member of the Fed's Board of Governors doesn’t expire until 2028, NBC News noted.—
Becca Longmire,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Nine days after Marshall’s discovery — at the conclusion of the Mexican-American War — the United States had been granted this land as part of a treaty.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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The prosecution and the defense called dueling bloodstain pattern analysts with differing conclusions about the crime scene.—
Lauren del Valle,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Its sequel Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release March 19, 2026, in five languages — Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam — expanding significantly beyond the original's Hindi-only strategy.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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The musical sequel had scored eight longlist mentions including in acting categories, score and sound, but today only heard its name called in costume and hair and makeup.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Some people posted the aftermath on social media that showed boxes of fireworks littered across the street with flames still active.—
Tori Apodaca,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Madigan received the event's Best Supporting Actress award for her role as the antagonist Aunt Gladys in Weapons, which follows several characters in the aftermath of the mysterious disappearance of several elementary school students from their homes overnight.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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