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final

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective final contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of final are last, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When would last be a good substitute for final?

The meanings of last and final largely overlap; however, last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book
last news we had of him

When is it sensible to use terminal instead of final?

While in some cases nearly identical to final, terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than final?

The synonyms ultimate and final are sometimes interchangeable, but ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

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 final
Adjective
With that comes homefield advantage until the MLS Cup final. Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Oct. 2025 Indiana Fever players, for instance, gained up to $30,000 each by winning the league’s midseason Commissioner’s Cup final in July, as cash is often used to add stakes for a new event. Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Just last month, the FAA also restored Boeing’s ability to perform final safety inspections on 737 Max jetliners and certify them for flight. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025 This week, on the final day of his permit, Morrison succeeded. Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for final
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
Adjective
  • Former People’s Armed Police commander Wang Chunning, also named in the statement, was removed from the national legislature last month, along with three other PLA generals.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The convention was sold again last year to Informa.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The bad news is that there are already murmurs in Brussels about piecemeal, incremental measures – harmonizing certain national laws, creating yet another framework for EU member states to fuss over and interpret.
    Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
  • How do such regimes exploit certain brain functions or cognitive tendencies?
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Younousse and Tijan faced Trevor and Taylor Crabb in the second semifinal on Saturday morning and won, 21-14, 21-17.
    Dan Arritt, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025
  • The program made the College Football Playoff semifinal in January.
    Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people, including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
    Khloe Quill , Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025
  • To showcase this luxury SUV, this week Lincoln sent me a 2025 Navigator L 4×4 to test drive and review.
    Tony Leopardo, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Researchers from Peking University, the University of Cambridge, and partner institutions highlighted that glass is often used to immobilize contaminants such as radionuclides and heavy metals, locking them safely inside a stable structure.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2025
  • To rebuild the city, the tunnels will need to be filled to make the ground stable enough for construction.
    Jennifer Griffin , Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • When looking for reasons the Nuggets will win a championship, Braun belongs high on the checklist.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Mater Dei coach Dan O’Dell, whose team won the CIF-SS Division 1 championship last season and just went 6-0 in the four-team Trinity League, offered plenty of praise.
    Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Many of the people were students celebrating the passing of an exam, Enquirer media partner Fox19 reported.
    Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Students will also be given the opportunity to take the Certified Aircraft Electronics Technician exam.
    Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

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