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
The intrigue and pursuit pull them across multiple, glamorous European locations to an unexpected denouement in Montenegro.
—
The Know, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2025
At the very least, the Ray reveal is more interesting than the sequel teased in the movie’s denouement.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Moderation’s denouement, like The Third Man’s, takes the form of a disgruntled monologue delivered on a Ferris wheel.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
As Squid Game marched through its final six episodes to a stunningly dark denouement (including that A-list cameo from Cate Blanchett for the final coda), Myung-gi was there all along, his fate uncertain to the bitter end.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
The Know, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2025
At the very least, the Ray reveal is more interesting than the sequel teased in the movie’s denouement.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 17 July 2025
Moderation’s denouement, like The Third Man’s, takes the form of a disgruntled monologue delivered on a Ferris wheel.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
As Squid Game marched through its final six episodes to a stunningly dark denouement (including that A-list cameo from Cate Blanchett for the final coda), Myung-gi was there all along, his fate uncertain to the bitter end.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
-
The way this is structured almost mandates some sort of big episode 4 finale and cliffhanger to get people to return of the second half, where previously the entire point of the binge was the freedom to tell stories without restrictions like that.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Leaves sparkle on tree limbs like gemstones and flowering plants gear up for their season finale.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Maybe — just maybe — the Jets showed enough to believe that this sort of ending won’t happen as often anymore.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
No easy fixes and no tidy endings here.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
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At the conclusion of the state's case Wednesday, the defense moved to have the case dismissed, arguing the state had failed to prove its case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Then, in the second half, a one-hour, two-minute lightning delay put a halt in the action, pushing the game’s conclusion past midnight on the East Coast.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Gomez is an executive producer on the sequel series, and previously reprised her role in two episodes in the first season after starring on the original Disney Channel sitcom from 2007 to 2012.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Sep. 2025
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Following years of buzz about a follow-up film, a sequel to the original movie was officially greenlit at 20th Century Studios back in January, to fans' delight.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Reddit/u/My_Heirloom_Tomatoes Not much happened in the immediate aftermath of Joanne penning the message.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
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Though some of his memories from that time are a blur, other details stick out in his mind, like the water — and the darkness that surrounded them in the immediate aftermath of the storm.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Later, Howard calls Matt and agrees to cut the sequence but also threatens to destroy him.—
Carson Blackwelder,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The aforementioned masks, for instance, hasten strange visions for Blakey, but the film’s hard boundary between his dreams and waking life sap these sequences of all tension.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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