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
While the film tends to feel its extended run time by the final act, the dénouement hits with a glorious gut-punch, ending on one last poem from Rimantas as Minde sits on the seashore-like driftwood.
—
Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
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The results were solid, with three exciting mini-games in the round-robin tournament all going down to the buzzer before the blowout finale.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
As a team, A&M had 12 hits and one walk in the series finale.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Edwards forced overtime with a clutch three-pointer before Scottie Barnes hit a game-ending, overtime three-pointer for his team in the opening mini-game against the World.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Astronomers are used to dramatic endings.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Of those, 15 have been concluded and 10 are at or near conclusion.—
STEPHEN GROVES,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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Dearest gentle readers, the time has nearly come for the conclusion of Bridgerton Season 4.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Hank Green is the author of New York Times best sellers An Absolutely Remarkable Thing and its sequel A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
17 Feb. 2026
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In terms of the Part 3 comic sequel, Eastman goes back to Waltz's Star Wars reference.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Jackson’s activism has not waned in the aftermath of the Parkinson’s diagnosis.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Feb. 2026
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Raman previously worked at a women’s rights organization formed in the aftermath of the #MeToo movement before becoming a council member.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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