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final

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective final contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of final are last, terminal, and ultimate. While all these words mean "following all others (as in time, order, or importance)," final applies to that which definitely closes a series, process, or progress.

final day of school

When would last be a good substitute for final?

The meanings of last and final 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

When is it sensible to use terminal instead of final?

While in some cases nearly identical to final, terminal may indicate a limit of extension, growth, or development.

terminal phase of a disease

When is ultimate a more appropriate choice than final?

The synonyms ultimate and final are sometimes interchangeable, 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

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 final
Adjective
Six weeks after capping a career-best season by assisting on the winning goal in the Cup final, Delgado was traded 12 miles up the Harbor Freeway to LAFC, a sacrifice to the league’s paltry salary cap. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2025 From there, Jin narrowed down the final count to seven songs, each exploring themes of love and connection. Olivia Munson, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Noun
The Rush were a powerhouse in the mid-2010s, winning titles in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and narrowly missing a four-peat with a finals loss in 2017. Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 May 2025 The league is coming off a thrilling finals that saw the New York Liberty beat the Minnesota Lynx in a decisive Game 5. Doug Feinberg, Twin Cities, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for final
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
Adjective
  • Derrick Groves, convicted last year for second-degree murder, remains on the loose and has led two prosecutors to flee the state for fear of reprisals.
    Chris Kenning, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Suarez, who was a finalist for the Golden Boot trophy last year with 20 goals, is in a scoring slump this season.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 25 May 2025
Adjective
  • What is Valley fever? Valley fever is a lung infection caused by breathing in spores from Coccidioides, a fungus that lives in the soil and dust in certain regions of the United States and the world, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 17 May 2025
  • However, while certain trends like being compliant with privacy regulations are a must to follow, the choice of others should depend on your goals and target audience.
    Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • Timothée Chalamet, the A-list actor and New York native who was courtside throughout the Eastern Conference semifinals, was spotted celebrating with fellow Knicks fans after the victory.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
  • The Chicago team Mabrey joined was only a season removed from its first WNBA Championship and reached the semifinals for a second straight year in 2022.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025
Noun
  • The test cleared by the FDA is likely to attract a much broader audience.
    Jon Hamilton, NPR, 21 May 2025
  • Use it to review pull requests, write unit tests, generate UI variations or polish copy.
    Kunal Abichandani, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • The shooting happened the day before the fifth anniversary of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that killed 17 and is the latest in what has become a deadly new year in the U.S.
    Joey Cappelletti and Mike Householder, Anchorage Daily News, 15 Feb. 2023
  • The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • The component loadout is good for the price, with 16GB of RAM making multi-tasking smooth and stable.
    K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 May 2025
  • Having stabilized their bank balances and secured pay rises, consumers are now spending in anticipation of a more stable interest rate and price environment, according to the economist.
    Ganesh Rao,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • The final two teams then play in a best-of-three series for the national championship.
    Lauren Merola, New York Times, 26 May 2025
  • Poly will play Warren for the Division 4 championship.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
Noun
  • The union certification process varies across the unions but generally requires an extensive background check, sometimes an exam, and the agreement to abide by the union’s agent regulations.
    Chris Deubert, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • Healthcare providers diagnose appendicitis using medical history, physical exams, and screening tests.
    Brandi Jones, Health, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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