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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Recent Examples of penultimate
That now means that Dudamel will spend only a single week at the Bowl during his penultimate summer as L.A. Phil music director.
—
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Hacks went with season four’s penultimate episode, a high mark for the Deborah/Ava relationship.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 14 June 2025
This post contains details about the Poker Face, Season 2 penultimate episode ‘Day of the Iguana’
With the season finale of Poker Face coming next week to Peacock, Patti Harrison has enjoyed making some quality television.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 5 July 2025
Metallica was the penultimate band to perform before the Osbourne/Black Sabbath finale performances.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Hacks went with season four’s penultimate episode, a high mark for the Deborah/Ava relationship.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 14 June 2025
This post contains details about the Poker Face, Season 2 penultimate episode ‘Day of the Iguana’
With the season finale of Poker Face coming next week to Peacock, Patti Harrison has enjoyed making some quality television.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 5 July 2025
Metallica was the penultimate band to perform before the Osbourne/Black Sabbath finale performances.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for penultimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for penultimate
Adjective
-
The first three days of the third and final season of Squid Game also came during the month of June.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
-
While still in its final development stages, the main clubhouse is set to open in the fall of 2025, and the pre-opening space on the 59th floor at 500 Fifth Avenue is already hosting events.—
Anna Haines,
Forbes.com,
15 July 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 25 Jul. 2025.
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