1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

mop-up

noun

ˈmäp-ˌəp How to pronounce mop-up (audio)
Definition of mop-upnext
as in ending
the last part of a process or action the general announced that the remaining fighting would be only a mop-up to a war that was all but over

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 mop-up Most of the crews have been released, and some firefighters will remain at the scene for mop-up operations. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 13 July 2026 Crews remained at the scene Friday night searching for hot spots and completing mop-up operations. — Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026 Fire crews were ordered to roll up their hoses, despite complaints that a more thorough mop-up was needed. — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 And think of this as almost just a mop-up operation. — NBC news, 28 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for mop-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mop-up
  1. ending
  2. conclusion
  3. end
  4. finale
  5. finish
  6. closing
  7. culmination
Noun
  • So, while the model maintains a steady flow of minidresses (spanning her modish orange number from Oddli to a piece of beige Valentino vintage), summer is, in fact, ending.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In non-linear lyric forms, the following collections braid love’s ruthless endings with its tenderest beginnings.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • The banquet room of an Elgin restaurant resonated with those words at the conclusion of a rousing tune featuring four-part barbershop harmony.
    — Tom Strong, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Two people can examine the same evidence and reach different conclusions.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of conclusion
Noun
  • But Vicki’s insufferable attitude is nothing compared to Lisa’s selfishness by the end of the episode.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Underwood went 12-of-22 passing for 170 yards and gifted Western Michigan 3 points at the end of the first half.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of end
Noun
  • Ella Bruccoleri returns as the awkward Mary Bennet opposite Dónal Finn as Tom Hayward, who proposed in the Season 1 finale – with Mary accepting.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Baltimore missed last season’s playoffs when its field goal missed in the season finale, circumstances that might have been avoided had the Ravens not started 1-5.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of finale
Noun
  • The Blues narrowly miss the playoffs after an abysmal start and a strong finish to the season.
    — Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Radiant Glow Balm is a versatile balm that delivers a sheer, natural-looking tint, soft-focus glow and lightweight moisture for a dewy, hydrated finish.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of finish
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
  • Four plays after his big return, Cawthon grabbed a 15-yard TD catch to spark a 38-3 closing run.
    — Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of closing
Noun
  • The voting is supposed to be the culmination of their work and ensure that a consensus has been reached.
    — Esther King, The Dial, 15 Sep. 2026
  • His dismissal wasn’t so much the result of one outburst or misstep, the person told The Times, but the culmination of a season’s worth of issues that boiled over in the wake of the Nebraska loss.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of culmination

Browse Nearby Words

mops
mop-up
mop-ups
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mop-up. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of elegiac

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
crayons-in-a-circle
Guess the Color Quiz Questions that use the whole box of crayons.
See All