final 1 of 2

final

2 of 2

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
Six weeks after capping a career-best season by assisting on the winning goal in the Cup final, Delgado was traded 12 miles up the Harbor Freeway to LAFC, a sacrifice to the league’s paltry salary cap. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025 From there, Jin narrowed down the final count to seven songs, each exploring themes of love and connection. Olivia Munson, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Noun
The Rush were a powerhouse in the mid-2010s, winning titles in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and narrowly missing a four-peat with a finals loss in 2017. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025 The league is coming off a thrilling finals that saw the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx in a decisive Game 5. Doug Feinberg, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for final
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
Adjective
  • She will be joined by special guests Girl In Red and The Last Dinner Party, who were confirmed for the gig last November.
    Sophie Williams, Billboard, 13 May 2025
  • The Powerball jackpot was last won April 26, when a Kentucky player hit the $167 million grand prize, lottery officials said.
    Don Sweeney, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • What is Valley fever? Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores from Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the soil and dust in certain regions of the United States and the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • This introduction to a group of 12- and 13-year-old boys as faceless forces of nature will prove apt in certain ways, although Polinger is careful not to make any of them one-dimensional.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • The Chicago team Mabrey joined was only a season removed from its first WNBA Championship and reached the semifinals for a second straight year in 2022.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
  • Timothée Chalamet, the A-list actor and New York native who was courtside throughout the Eastern Conference semifinals, was spotted celebrating with fellow Knicks fans after the victory.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • In late 2024, OpenAI’s o3 model indicated significantly stronger performance than any previous model on a number of the field’s most challenging tests of programming, abstract reasoning, and scientific reasoning.
    Yoshua Bengio, Time, 9 May 2025
  • However, department officials declined to provide the copies of the soil test results, saying data had yet to be finalized.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 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
  • Temperatures are all maintained and stable in all steps.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
  • Unlike stable angina, unstable angina is considered a medical emergency.
    MD Published, Verywell Health, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • Swearingen plays Billy Hamilton, a young championship winning bull rider who clashes with McDonough’s Joe.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
  • Rose, who won the National League MVP Award in 1973, helped the Reds win two World Series championships in 1975 and 1976.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • The union certification process varies across the unions but generally requires an extensive background check, sometimes an exam, and the agreement to abide by the union’s agent regulations.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • Healthcare providers diagnose appendicitis using medical history, physical exams, and screening tests.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 17 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on final

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!