Synonyms of terminal

terminal 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtərm-nəl 

1

as in final

following all others of the same kind in order or time

took me to the terminal point of that bus route

Synonyms & Similar Words

• final
• latest
• last
• closing
• latter
• concluding
• terminating
• lowest
• lag
• ultimate
• penultimate
• rearmost
• following
• eventual
• bottommost
• farthest
• ensuing
• hindmost
• consequent
• succeeding
• lowermost
• furthest
• remotest
• conclusive
• outermost
• decisive
• definitive
• crowning
• farthermost
• furthermost
• extreme
• endmost
• nethermost
• outmost
• utmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• initial
• first
• primary
• beginning
• original
• opening
• earliest
• starting
• pioneer
• maiden
• foremost
• inaugural
• headmost
• superior
• eminent
• leadoff
• premier

2

as in lethal

likely to cause or capable of causing death

a form of cancer that is usually terminal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lethal
• deadly
• fatal
• infectious
• infective
• poisonous
• killer
• harmful
• mortal
• toxic
• deathly
• murderous
• dangerous
• baleful
• vital
• destructive
• hazardous
• fell
• deleterious
• pestilent
• pernicious
• virulent
• serious
• injurious
• baneful
• pestilential
• risky
• ugly
• noxious
• sublethal
• perilous
• threatening
• truculent
• unhealthy
• grave
• bloody
• menacing
• parlous
• sanguinary
• grievous
• unsound
• sanguine
• jeopardizing
• internecine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• healthy
• beneficial
• healthful
• nonfatal
• nonlethal
• wholesome
• remedial
• salubrious
• curative
• salutary
• corrective
• useful
• tonic
• restorative
• advantageous
• safe
• alleviative
• nontoxic
• nonpoisonous

terminal

2 of 2

noun

as in depot

Related Words

• depot
• station
• way station
• layover
• stopover
• stop
• outstation

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective terminal contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of terminal are final, last, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When would final be a good substitute for terminal?

In some situations, the words final and terminal are roughly equivalent. However, final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When is it sensible to use last instead of terminal?

The meanings of last and terminal largely overlap; however, last applies to something that comes at the end of a series but does not always imply that the series is completed or stopped.

last page of a book

last news we had of him

Where would ultimate be a reasonable alternative to terminal?

The words ultimate and terminal can be used in similar contexts, but ultimate implies the last degree or stage of a long process beyond which further progress or change is impossible.

the ultimate collapse of the system

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of terminal

Adjective

Shortly after, Higgs was diagnosed with a terminal case of stage 4 breast cancer. — Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026

Voters approved the airport terminal replacement project in 2016. — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Noun

The planes were carrying Israeli commandos to a disused airport-terminal building in Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria. — Anne Neuberger, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026

The kingdom redirected a substantial portion of its oil exports through an East-West pipeline to the Red Sea terminal of Yanbu. — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 2 July 2026