as in final
formal
occurring immediately before the last one; next to the last
the penultimate chapter of the book the penultimate syllable of the word
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of penultimate
The season’s penultimate episode was ridiculous, but in all the best ways, surprising and emotionally satisfying.
—
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Team Chicago would face one more loss in the penultimate episode.
—Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
The low-slung lakefront residence—once known as the John M. and Elizabeth Bates House No. 4—was the penultimate commission of Wade Hampton Pipes, a pivotal voice in Oregon’s Arts and Crafts movement.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
The penultimate show would be a solid test run for having them back to host the all-important 100th.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
Team Chicago would face one more loss in the penultimate episode.
—Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2025
The low-slung lakefront residence—once known as the John M. and Elizabeth Bates House No. 4—was the penultimate commission of Wade Hampton Pipes, a pivotal voice in Oregon’s Arts and Crafts movement.
—Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
The penultimate show would be a solid test run for having them back to host the all-important 100th.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penultimate
Adjective
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Tommy Fleetwood continued his stretch of good fortune to enter the final round with a three-shot lead at 16-under.—
Joe Arruda,
Hartford Courant,
22 June 2025
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This season, in a loss to the New York Liberty May 24, Clark took contact from New York's Natasha Cloud on the final play of the game.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Penultimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penultimate. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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