Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

windup

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of windup

the last part of a process or action

  • wait until the windup of your sales pitch before giving up any information about the product's price point
Synonyms of windup

capper, close, closing, conclusion, consummation, end, endgame, ending, finale, finis, finish, grand finale, homestretch, mop-up, wrap-up
Words Related to windup

acme, apex, capstone, climax, copestone, coup de grâce (or coup de grace), crescendo, crown, culmination, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith

aftermath, anticlimax, coda, epilogue (also epilog), postscript

shank, tag end, tail end
Near Antonyms of windup

foreword, introduction, overture, preamble, preface, prelude, prologue (also prolog)
Antonyms of windup

baseline, beginning, dawn, day one, nascence, nascency, opening, start

wind up

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of wind up

1 to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point

  • try to wind up the performance, as we're almost out of time
Synonyms of wind up

close, close out, complete, conclude, end, finish, round (off or out), terminate, wrap up
Words Related to wind up

climax, crown

consummate, perfect

halt, stop, suspend
Phrases Synonymous with wind up

put paid to [chiefly British], ring down the curtain (on)
Antonyms of wind up

begin, commence, inaugurate, open, start

2 to come to an end

  • her speeches usually wind up with one last joke
Synonyms of wind up

break off, break up, cease, close, conclude, dead-end, determine, die, discontinue, elapse, end, expire, finish, go, halt, lapse, leave off, let up, pass, quit, stop, terminate, wink (out)
Words Related to wind up

desist (from), lay off (of), refrain (from)

give over [British], knock off, pack (up or in)

break down, conk (out), cut out, stall

pause, stay, suspend

abate, peter (out), wind down
Phrases Synonymous with wind up

bite the dust
Near Antonyms of wind up

draw out, extend, prolong, protract
Antonyms of wind up

continue, hang on, persist

Learn More about windup

  1. See words that rhyme with windup Dictionary: Definition of windup Spanish Central: Translation of windup Nglish: Translation of windup for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about windup

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up windup? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games