as in endings
the last part of a process or action
the finale to the festivities was a grand display of fireworks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 finales
Colbert’s goodbye — running some 17 minutes over — was ambitious in a way that other TV late night finales were not.
—
Mark Kennedy, Fortune, 23 May 2026
This misery-making helped Hantz brute-force his way to two successive finales.
—Shaan Merchant, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
And even though the season eventually ended with Ruben Studdard taking home the title, Aiken still finished runner up in one of the closest finales the show has seen.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Thirty-six of those series reached a Game 7, with the 3-1 team posting a 23-13 record in the finales.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
The Royals, meanwhile, fell to 34-24 in series finales dating to the 2025 season.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Add the memorable cliffhanger, and Nemesis is one of Stargate's strongest finales.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The Nets, who went 26-56 last season, have lost four consecutive season finales.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Both shows are currently airing new seasons on ABC, with both slated to air their respective season finales in early May.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Mark Kennedy, Fortune, 23 May 2026
This misery-making helped Hantz brute-force his way to two successive finales.
—Shaan Merchant, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
And even though the season eventually ended with Ruben Studdard taking home the title, Aiken still finished runner up in one of the closest finales the show has seen.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Thirty-six of those series reached a Game 7, with the 3-1 team posting a 23-13 record in the finales.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
The Royals, meanwhile, fell to 34-24 in series finales dating to the 2025 season.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
Add the memorable cliffhanger, and Nemesis is one of Stargate's strongest finales.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
The Nets, who went 26-56 last season, have lost four consecutive season finales.
—CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
Both shows are currently airing new seasons on ABC, with both slated to air their respective season finales in early May.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for finales
Noun
-
Therapy can help individuals process grief lacking traditional endings.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
In his era of new beginnings and endings, Kali is most excited for listeners to feel inspired by the new music.—
Elise Brisco,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
For the United States, that fact leads to several conclusions.—
Olivia White,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Arab producers are drawing their own conclusions, redirecting supply chains away from Gulf chokepoints and investing in rail corridors linking inland production facilities to ports far removed from the current theater of conflict.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Finales.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/finales. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
