variants
or ultimata
as in demands
something that someone insists upon having
issued the ultimatum that the project be finished by the following week, or it would be terminated
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of ultimatums
Now, Zelenskyy is faced with ultimatums from Moscow and Washington to give up Ukrainian land, Fesenko said — something the Ukrainian leader is unlikely accept in the face of domestic public opinion.
—
Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
This approach preserves deniability and avoids public ultimatums.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
However, no ultimatums were made to Harbaugh, nor did any discussions with him reach the stage where final decisions about the makeup of his 2026 staff were communicated.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Instead, Washington must shore up its traditional credibility in the world and use it to steer China along a less hostile path, presenting Beijing with dilemmas rather than ultimatums and seeking to shape outcomes over time rather than dictate them immediately.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In the end, the Democrats mostly oriented their demands toward health care—above all, the renewal of expiring Obamacare subsidies—as opposed to, say, prioritizing more abstract ultimatums related to creeping authoritarianism.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Some left because of promotions or retirements, but others because of ultimatums to accept new assignments or resign.
—Eric Tucker, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Direct lines of contact between the two powers devolved into a muddle of nuclear threats, insults and ultimatums.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Dramatic ultimatums to staff about AI pivots are increasingly common among Apple’s competitors.
—PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2025
Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
This approach preserves deniability and avoids public ultimatums.
—Joel Shulman, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
However, no ultimatums were made to Harbaugh, nor did any discussions with him reach the stage where final decisions about the makeup of his 2026 staff were communicated.
—Jeff Zrebiec, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Instead, Washington must shore up its traditional credibility in the world and use it to steer China along a less hostile path, presenting Beijing with dilemmas rather than ultimatums and seeking to shape outcomes over time rather than dictate them immediately.
—Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
In the end, the Democrats mostly oriented their demands toward health care—above all, the renewal of expiring Obamacare subsidies—as opposed to, say, prioritizing more abstract ultimatums related to creeping authoritarianism.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
Some left because of promotions or retirements, but others because of ultimatums to accept new assignments or resign.
—Eric Tucker, Twin Cities, 13 Sep. 2025
Direct lines of contact between the two powers devolved into a muddle of nuclear threats, insults and ultimatums.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Dramatic ultimatums to staff about AI pivots are increasingly common among Apple’s competitors.
—PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ultimatums
Noun
-
Your 11th House of Connected Communities calls for review as cerebral Mercury goes retrograde, so group efforts may stall around demands for clearer roles.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The police association leaders framed the new academy as core public‑safety infrastructure, arguing that the city’s recruiting challenges, training needs and response to rising growth all hinge on facilities that can support modern policing demands.—
Chase Rogers,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Google and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The move aimed to provide liquidity to retail investors amid rising industry-wide redemption requests and multiple quarters of net outflows.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
While countries such as Spain and clubs such as Barcelona train their young players for years using the same system, with the same positional requirements and following the same procedures, Germany jumps from trend to trend.—
Philipp Lahm,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Advertisement Henderson noted that 486 voters had registration information that was incomplete or inaccurate and that a third of that group registered decades ago, when the state did not have the same requirements.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
She was hired as the school's bookkeeper in 2018 responsible for internal accounts, the budget, accounts payable, petty cash, purchase orders and requisitions.—
Scott Butler,
Florida Times-Union,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The decision to remove McDonald from his director position, place him on leave and investigate came after an internal audit raised concerns over his travel requisitions and advances, TSU President Dwayne Tucker said earlier this year.—
Rachel Wegner,
Nashville Tennessean,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ultimatums.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ultimatums. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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