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last

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective last contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of last are final, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," 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 final instead of last?

In some situations, the words final and last are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When can terminal be used instead of last?

The synonyms terminal and last are sometimes interchangeable, but terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than last?

While in some cases nearly identical to last, 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 last
Adjective
Meanwhile Penn State last year was on the hook for more than $900,000 in football coaching severance per the KnightNewhouse database, presumably due to Mike Yurcich, Kotelnicki’s predecessor who was fired in 2023. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025 According to Jassy, inbound lead times have been cut by nearly four days compared to last year. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
In a meeting that lasted an hour and forty minutes—longer than expected—the heads of state brought ample backup. Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 30 Oct. 2025 Another program in Idaho could be at risk in January if the shutdown lasts until then, Woller told the Idaho Statesman, but those program administrators are hopeful the government will reopen by then. Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for last
Recent Examples of Synonyms for last
Adjective
  • Diagonal passes to onrushing full-backs has proven to be another effective route around the high defensive line, as Inter targeted Denzel Dumfries with 14 long balls out to his flank across the two-legged Champions League semi-final tie with Barcelona last season.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But the tone of those attacks have amped up in recent days, drawing allegations from some Democrats that Cuomo’s campaign is leaning into Islamophobia in the final stretch of the campaign.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Researchers further explain that the discovery of microscopic deformation features in quartz provides conclusive proof that the Jinlin crater was formed by an asteroid impact.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement What the NFL changed to reduce injuries In recent years, as research about CTE has become more conclusive, some sports leagues have begun to concede that head impacts are a problem.
    Alana Semuels, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There aren't a ton of great options in free agency, though there may not be too many choices at all via trade either, as most teams have their starter and backup quarterbacks locked in and won't be looking to part with either at this point in the year.
    Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
  • His girlfriend had taken a 38 rifle to the back of his head and plastered most of its contents onto the kitchen wall.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Elaine and Alan survived this week's eliminations, and will return to the show next week.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
  • That old story survived the reevaluation of war that took place during the Enlightenment; the transformation of the modern battlefield by mass mobilization and factory-scale killing in the twentieth century; and now, the separation between killer and target facilitated by technology.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Still, the project adds another exclusive tier to a venue already marked by VIP enclaves, raising questions about how much of COTA’s most distinctive real estate will remain truly accessible — and for how long.
    Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • But its 60-table card room, tucked into a low-key design, remained.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 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
  • But a Dodgers win in Game 6 would force a decisive Game 7 and keep Los Angeles' back-to-back championship hopes alive.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • In the years since, the battle’s decisive tactics have been closely studied, but archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and the National Trust for Scotland recently discovered an array of physical relics from the deadly conflict.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • For maximum effectiveness, place cedar rings or chips inside bags or containers to seal up with your clothing.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Pause at the top and hold for a couple of seconds, squeezing your glutes for maximum engagement.
    Jakob Roze, Health, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Last.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/last. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

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