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
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 penultimate
The show’s second season has some tie-ins to the penultimate and final seasons of The Boys.
—
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
The Duke of Sussex was photographed arriving by car at Clarence House, where his father lives, on the third and penultimate day of his visit to Britain.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Saturday marked the third and penultimate day of the Gold Country Fair in Auburn and brought a morning filled with anticipation and excitement as students, after raising animals, saw their work peak at the auction.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The defending World Cup champions are hosting Venezuela in South America’s penultimate round of qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
The Duke of Sussex was photographed arriving by car at Clarence House, where his father lives, on the third and penultimate day of his visit to Britain.
—Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Saturday marked the third and penultimate day of the Gold Country Fair in Auburn and brought a morning filled with anticipation and excitement as students, after raising animals, saw their work peak at the auction.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 6 Sep. 2025
The defending World Cup champions are hosting Venezuela in South America’s penultimate round of qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penultimate
Adjective
-
Tactically, the most notable feature of the final was how regularly the two goalkeepers found themselves in bizarre positions, rushing out to close down attackers in wide areas.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The largest came on the final play, as Texas couldn’t get back to the line of scrimmage in time to spike the ball and continue a possible game-tying drive.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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 9 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share