denouement
noun
de·noue·ment
ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmäⁿ 
dā-ˈnü-ˌmäⁿ
dā-ˈnü-ˌmäⁿ
variants
or less commonly dénouement
plural denouements also dénouements
1
: the final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a novel, play, film, etc.
In the novel's denouement, the two hostages escape to freedom.
It is an intentionally unsettling denouement, which is in keeping with the tone and purpose of the entire miniseries.—
David Wiegand
David Wiegand2
: the outcome of a complex sequence of events
the competition's exciting denouement
Examples of denouement in a Sentence
In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ukraine in focus The two heads of states' Thursday talks also touched on a second key concern for Trump — accelerating the denouement of the war in Ukraine and European proactivism in increasing defense spending.
—Ruxandra Iordache,sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
And during the famously bloody denouement — when all but one of the remaining characters are killed, in a matter of minutes — the bodies of Gertrude, Laertes and Claudius tumble down the deck and out of sight, one by one, leaving only the dying Hamlet, cradled by his friend Horatio.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh are set to begin their employment tribunal against the BBC on March 17 in London, marking the denouement of a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two years.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Still, Mickey's personal journey from self-hating nihilist to unlikely hero with a newfound awareness of his worth leads to an uncharacteristically optimistic denouement from Bong.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
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Ruxandra Iordache,sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
And during the famously bloody denouement — when all but one of the remaining characters are killed, in a matter of minutes — the bodies of Gertrude, Laertes and Claudius tumble down the deck and out of sight, one by one, leaving only the dying Hamlet, cradled by his friend Horatio.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera, and Annita McVeigh are set to begin their employment tribunal against the BBC on March 17 in London, marking the denouement of a dispute that has rumbled on for more than two years.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2025
Still, Mickey's personal journey from self-hating nihilist to unlikely hero with a newfound awareness of his worth leads to an uncharacteristically optimistic denouement from Bong.
—Megan McCluskey, TIME, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denouement. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
denouement
noun
de·noue·ment
ˌdā-ˌnü-ˈmän
dā-ˈnü-ˌ
dā-ˈnü-ˌ
1
: the final solution or untangling of the conflicts or difficulties that make up the plot of a literary work
2
: the outcome of a complicated or difficult situation or sequence of events
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