denouement

noun

variants also dénouement
Definition of denouementnext
as in finale
formal the final part of something (such as a book, a play, or a series of events) In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves. the competition's exciting denouement

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of denouement The boldness of the plot was a dark reflection of India’s rising economic weight in the West, despite the farcical denouement: An American informant had unwittingly been hired as a hit man. — Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025 And that’s a wrap for Dark Matter, a more-thoughtful-than-I’d-expected series that lives up to its name by giving us a quasi-happy denouement that is in fact quantifiably more tragic than if Jason A had never found his way back to his family. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 June 2024 The moments before the fatal shooting fill the grid’s upper half, while the tragic denouement unfolds at a viewer’s vulnerable eye-level. — Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024 A bit less intense than the rant from ‘El Loco’, Marsch’s criticisms felt like the perfect denouement, perhaps the harshest criticisms levelled against a tournament that has been widely scrutinized since its opening match. — Pablo Maurer, The Athletic, 13 July 2024 See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
  1. finale
  2. ending
  3. conclusion
  4. sequel
  5. aftermath
  6. sequence
Noun
  • Cold Harbor, the evocative season two finale of Severance, clearly resonates with leadership strategists as a case study in the risks of extreme compartmentalization.
    — Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Some of the most prolific talents the show has ever produced strutted straight out of the show's third installment, which culminated in a finale that saw fan-favorite model Yaya DaCosta duke it out against Eva Marcille (more on her, later) on the runway.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of finale
Noun
  • Meet the Real-Life Loves of Netflix's The Residence Cast Keep reading for everything to know about the bombshell ending of The Residence — including the unlikely murderer behind A.B. Wynter’s death.
    — Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Where Season 1’s ending directs viewers’ ire toward Lumon, an evil corporation that faked Gemma’s death and then experimented on her, Season 2’s ending puts the climactic weight on Mark.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of ending
Noun
  • The people who enjoyed that show were cheated out of a conclusion.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Wednesday’s decision, which comes at the conclusion of the Fed’s two-day monetary policy meeting, shows that central bankers are waiting for evidence that inflation is headed toward their 2% target — or that the economy is weakening more than expected.
    — Bryan Mena, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of conclusion
Noun
  • Netflix on Tuesday released the teaser trailer for the upcoming film Happy Gilmore 2, a direct sequel to Adam Sandler‘s 1996 slapstick comedy.
    — Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
  • Beginning with the 2015 origin story, known simply as Ant-Man (which Rudd also co-wrote with an Avengers-worthy team of screenwriter stars, including Joe Cornish, Edgar Wright, and Adam Mckay), the franchise has spawned two sequels and sprung Rudd into 2019's Avengers: Endgame.
    — Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of sequel
Noun
  • In the immediate aftermath of the election, markets rallied and businesses celebrated the dawn of a friendlier era for regulation.
    — Neil Irwin, Axios, 14 Mar. 2025
  • An Amber Alert was launched in the immediate aftermath of the rampage, and BSO deputies found Nathan and Seraphine at a North Lauderdale Walmart that afternoon, where Nathan was arrested.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of aftermath
Noun
  • On Des Moines’ first attacking sequence after halftime, Feilhaber was fouled in the box to set up a penalty kick.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The report, which did not include a cause for the crash, noted that the exact sequence of the aforementioned events is still being examined.
    — David Chiu, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of sequence

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“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on denouement

Nglish: Translation of denouement for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about denouement

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