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
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Recent Examples of mop-up
Coyote Fire mostly contained in El Dorado County East of Sacramento, the Coyote Fire was 90% contained Thursday morning after burning 624 acres as mop-up work and hot spot checks continue inside the fire perimeter, Cal Fire’s Amador-El Dorado uni said.
—
Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The veteran Brubaker had been working as a long/mop-up man in the Yankees’ bullpen.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Rioux enters his redshirt freshman season with the Gators pushing to even get on the court during mop-up time when games are decided.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025
Crews continue to strengthen mop-up efforts around structures and reinforce perimeter control lines to ensure the fire remains within its current footprint.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Containment is along the south edge of the fire, and fire crews are using hand tools and heavy equipment to work the northwest, west and southwest areas of the fire, while mop-up work continues on other areas of the western section.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 July 2025
Robert began the eighth only because Thomson and his coaches assessed the situation and deemed him worthy over rookie Seth Johnson and Joe Ross, the $4 million mop-up man.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 9 July 2025
In for what proved to be only 2:07 of mop-up duty in Indiana’s rout, Johnson received a technical foul with 57.3 seconds to play amid an altercation and was ejected.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
The veteran Brubaker had been working as a long/mop-up man in the Yankees’ bullpen.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Rioux enters his redshirt freshman season with the Gators pushing to even get on the court during mop-up time when games are decided.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025
Crews continue to strengthen mop-up efforts around structures and reinforce perimeter control lines to ensure the fire remains within its current footprint.
—Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025
Containment is along the south edge of the fire, and fire crews are using hand tools and heavy equipment to work the northwest, west and southwest areas of the fire, while mop-up work continues on other areas of the western section.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 18 July 2025
Robert began the eighth only because Thomson and his coaches assessed the situation and deemed him worthy over rookie Seth Johnson and Joe Ross, the $4 million mop-up man.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 9 July 2025
In for what proved to be only 2:07 of mop-up duty in Indiana’s rout, Johnson received a technical foul with 57.3 seconds to play amid an altercation and was ejected.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 21 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mop-up
Noun
-
Maybe — just maybe — the Jets showed enough to believe that this sort of ending won’t happen as often anymore.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
No easy fixes and no tidy endings here.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At the conclusion of the state's case Wednesday, the defense moved to have the case dismissed, arguing the state had failed to prove its case.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Then, in the second half, a one-hour, two-minute lightning delay put a halt in the action, pushing the game’s conclusion past midnight on the East Coast.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those looking to get their steps in might ping pong between the Lake Stage, near Polk Bros Park at the Pier’s entrance point, and the East Stage, at the very end, practically in the lake.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
At the end of every successful criminal prosecution, one question hangs over the heads of offenders, victims and attorneys.—
Quinlan Bentley,
The Enquirer,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The way this is structured almost mandates some sort of big episode 4 finale and cliffhanger to get people to return of the second half, where previously the entire point of the binge was the freedom to tell stories without restrictions like that.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Leaves sparkle on tree limbs like gemstones and flowering plants gear up for their season finale.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Curv 2 Pro retains its predecessor's striking white finish and curved base station, while increasing its vacuum and mopping power and adding versatility to its self-lifting wheels.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The low, powerful finish from the edge of the box to beat Italy in the Under-21 Euros this summer was another example of his high ceiling in the final third.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 59-year-old supermodel stepped out in March with husband Rande Gerber to attend the closing night of their daughter Kaia Gerber’s play Evanston Salt Costs Climbing in Los Angeles.—
Clara McMahon,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The acquisition is still subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tres, his sexy, 16-seat counter-dining restaurant in a basement warehouse in Rotterdam, is the culmination of that boundless curiosity.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
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The indictments are the culmination of a weeks-long investigation by the Texas Rangers, Johnson County judge Christopher Boedeker told WFAA.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mop-up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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