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
Wade Miley, who was signed to step into Greene’s spot in the rotation, gave up four runs in the last two innings of mop-up duty.
—
C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 4 June 2025
Crews will focus on suppression repair, addressing areas damaged by the fire, as well as mop-up operations.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
Operational focus will include deep mop-up, hazard tree mitigation, and preparation for potential weather shifts in the coming days.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
DeSmith hadn’t played in more than a month, his mop-up duty in Game 4 of the first round his only action since the end of the regular season.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Resources will continue mop-up operations for the next few hours.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
The Kings have used seven goalies in total as Cal Petersen (2022) and Pheonix Copley (2023) each did a mop-up job for one game in relief.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Things got so bad in Baltimore during the first month that Sanchez was actually deployed as a mop-up relief pitcher.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Firefighters are actively engaged in mop-up operations and strengthening containment lines to ensure full control of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 4 June 2025
Crews will focus on suppression repair, addressing areas damaged by the fire, as well as mop-up operations.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 June 2025
Operational focus will include deep mop-up, hazard tree mitigation, and preparation for potential weather shifts in the coming days.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025
DeSmith hadn’t played in more than a month, his mop-up duty in Game 4 of the first round his only action since the end of the regular season.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Resources will continue mop-up operations for the next few hours.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 May 2025
The Kings have used seven goalies in total as Cal Petersen (2022) and Pheonix Copley (2023) each did a mop-up job for one game in relief.
—Eric Stephens, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Things got so bad in Baltimore during the first month that Sanchez was actually deployed as a mop-up relief pitcher.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Firefighters are actively engaged in mop-up operations and strengthening containment lines to ensure full control of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mop-up
Noun
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Even a half-century later, the undead ghouls that descend upon survivors in a Pennsylvania farm house are timeless and the gut-punch ending couldn't be more timely.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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Move over, infamously maligned ending of 2018’s The Predator — there’s a new cliffhanger in town.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
Roku’s Debt stood at $577 million at the conclusion of the most recent quarter, while its market capitalization is $11 billion (as of 6/6/2025).—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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The Big 12—arguably the most enthusiastic supporter of private capital among the conferences—recently came to a similar conclusion after a year-long evaluation process that reportedly included discussions with global investment firm CVC Capital.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
Near the end of their captivity, the kidnappers cut off the ring finger of Juan’s left hand.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
14 June 2025
-
Siri has been hitting outside, going through a running progression and taking outfield jumps for about a month with the hope of returning by the end of the month.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Following the premiere, new episodes will drop weekly on Thursdays, with the season finale on Thursday, September 11.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
12 June 2025
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Things take a turn in the season finale when U.S. President Rayburn dies after Wyler’s husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) tells him that Penn coordinated the attack.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
12 June 2025
Noun
-
The finish is usually long and elegant, with lingering notes of red fruit.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
-
The biggest surprise here may be that Nico Hülkenberg brought home four more points with his eighth-place finish, increasing Sauber’s total for the season to 20 (all of which have come from the German driver).—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Noun
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Prosecutors and defense attorneys will begin delivering their closing arguments Friday in Read’s second murder trial over the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O’Keefe.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
After both sides gave their closing arguments Friday morning, Judge Beverly Cannone spent the early afternoon reading jury instructions before alternates were selected and the remaining jurors were sent to the deliberation room.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Their presence is the culmination of a decade-long project under Schmetzer, the latest big game for a club well-accustomed to the spotlight.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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But the opening is the culmination of many more years, stretching back to Shi’s start in the hospitality space.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mop-up. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.
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