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
While both of them were mop-up appearances to save the bullpen, the team saw some things to be excited about.
—
Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Joe Milton went in there, mop-up duty, played well.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Wilson, who has started 33 NFL games and owns a 12-21 record in those starts, played in a mop-up role against the Colts, completing 5-of-8 passes, throwing for 32 yards this season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
In typical fashion, Trump’s team spent the weekend on mop-up, issuing clarifications and corrections.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
At the plate, the Tigers have averaged just 2.5 runs a game over their 10-game cratering; in the rotation … well, Chris Paddack has mop-up duty in the bullpen and Charlie Morton is unemployed.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Fire crews were also actively engaged in mop-up efforts, searching for any remaining hotspots or burning materials along the perimeter of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Wilson never saw action as starter Bo Nix played every meaningful snap and backup Jarrett Stidham handled the limited mop-up duty.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 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
Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
Joe Milton went in there, mop-up duty, played well.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2025
Wilson, who has started 33 NFL games and owns a 12-21 record in those starts, played in a mop-up role against the Colts, completing 5-of-8 passes, throwing for 32 yards this season.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
In typical fashion, Trump’s team spent the weekend on mop-up, issuing clarifications and corrections.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
At the plate, the Tigers have averaged just 2.5 runs a game over their 10-game cratering; in the rotation … well, Chris Paddack has mop-up duty in the bullpen and Charlie Morton is unemployed.
—Ryan Ford, Freep.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Fire crews were also actively engaged in mop-up efforts, searching for any remaining hotspots or burning materials along the perimeter of the fire.
—Ca Wildfire Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Wilson never saw action as starter Bo Nix played every meaningful snap and backup Jarrett Stidham handled the limited mop-up duty.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mop-up
Noun
-
That could mean a major ending, breakthrough or breakdown.—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
1 Nov. 2025
-
In the bad ending, Fettel takes her child and eats her to absorb her power.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The character died of a heart attack near the conclusion of that series.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
-
One hour and forty minutes later the two leaders re-emerged and could be seen shaking hands at the conclusion of their talks.—
Betsy Klein,
CNN Money,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At war’s end, the narrative that develops valorizes physical courage, glorifies battlefield heroics, and vilifies hubris.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The end of a building erected in the 1940s?—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The likely transatlantic move may be hinted in the Season 5 finale, which debuts Tuesday on Hulu.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The Boots season 1 finale ends with unanswered questions, like the fate of Sullivan and what President Bush's announcement means for Cameron and his crew.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The satin finish keeps frizz to a minimum, and the flexible rod is easy to pack flat.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The nongreasy formula also delivers a luminous, glowy finish that even shoppers in their 80s can attest to.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Major indexes climbed Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing above 47,000 for the first time.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In the days after Niccol announced the job cuts and store closings, some workers briefly walked off the job at various Starbucks, including in Columbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Nashville and Eugene, Oregon, to raise attention to their contract fight.—
Mike Snider,
Louisville Courier Journal,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That day was the culmination of all that purpose coming together.—
Erin Clack,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Her new life is the culmination of a metamorphosis that has been both soul-crushing and cathartic.—
Tatiana Siegel,
Variety,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mop-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mop-up. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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