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endings

noun

plural of ending
1
as in finales
the last part of a process or action the plagiarism scandal was a disgraceful ending to a once-promising academic career

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cessations
the stopping of a process or activity the best part about any dental procedure is its ending

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of endings In this age of unremitting test screenings and CinemaScore, downer endings typically score lower, so Abrams appreciates that Cregger and Sony weren’t afraid to figuratively twist the knife in the audience. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 In non-linear lyric forms, the following collections braid love’s ruthless endings with its tenderest beginnings. — Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026 This joins the list of the sport’s most controversial endings ever, including other clock mishaps. — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 For those who haven’t seen the only good movie based on a board game (sorry, Battleship), Clue has multiple endings in order to simulate the repeatability of the game. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 It’s been a summer of endings and beginnings for Tom Colicchio. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026 Our brains hold onto beginnings and endings and lose the middle. — James Glover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Most major characters got their happy endings, though the Roy/Keeley/Jamie love triangle was left largely unresolved. — Rachel Labonte, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Aug. 2026 By rejecting the myth of beginning again and the idea that endings are inherently meaningful, Luiselli highlights the fascination of the middle. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for endings
  1. finales
  2. cessations
  3. conclusions
  4. ends
  5. culminations
  6. halts
  7. closings
  8. closures
Noun
  • The show can also boast one of the more memorable series finales in TV history.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026
  • At least one show is coming to an end this week, after some big finales last weekend.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of finales
Noun
  • Temporary cessations of hostility, but no permanent closing of the moral and social divide between debtor and creditor, and no giving up on the thought that some lives matter more than others.
    — Henry Freedland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of cessations
Noun
  • The analyst then used the AI to formalize its conclusions into a conventional military intelligence report without double- or triple-checking the validity of its conclusions.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
  • There was still the possibility that all of this had been a colossal instance of jumping to conclusions on Tristan’s part, and that the name Buster had been chosen at random for its mass appeal.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of conclusions
Noun
  • The product is applied to dry lengths and ends and works diligently to tame flyaways once you’re done drying.
    — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
  • To further test the adhesive’s stickiness, the team attached ropes to the ends of two strips of the tape, stuck the strips together, and used the setup for a tug-of-war between students and faculty.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ends
Noun
  • Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, tend to coincide with powerful culminations, emotional revelations and the release of something that’s reached its natural conclusion.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
  • Full moons are culminations — don’t forget to pause and see what’s already come full circle before rushing into more.
    — Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 28 Nov. 2025
Definition of culminations
Noun
  • The automatic stay halts proceedings but doesn't compel creditors to undo pre-petition filings without operative effect.
    — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • Since prolonged production halts can cause permanent damage to oil wells, shutting them down is typically a last resort.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 15 June 2026
Definition of halts
Noun
  • Nearly 40 public elementary schools in Orange County now enroll fewer students than needed to be financially stable, raising the specter of more school closings in a district that shuttered seven campuses in May.
    — Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The demands of thousands of openings and closings create mechanical stress on the layers of the screen.
    — Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of closings
Noun
  • Trump’s comments came amid Houthi attacks on Riyadh that hit the airport, prompting the US to alert citizens in the region to prepare for possible airspace closures.
    — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Fewer students equals less state funding, with potential layoffs and school closures looming.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of closures

Browse Nearby Words

ending
endings
endless
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Cite this Entry

“Endings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/endings. Accessed 24 Sep. 2026.

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