final 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfī-nᵊl How to pronounce final (audio)
Definition of finalnext
1
as in last
following all others of the same kind in order or time this will be my final order

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in certain
having been established and usually not subject to change the wedding date is final

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

final

2 of 2

noun

1
as in semifinal

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in test

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
For Liv in particular, their idea of what that final ride on the plane was going to be was an emotional one. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025 The squad soon discovers the job is a suicide mission and must choose between redemption or the final termination of their close brotherhood. —Lesley O'Toole, Variety, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
With the victory, the Huskies secured a record 12th national title and improved to 12-1 all-time in NCAA tournament finals. —Homero De La Fuente, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025 The recent Champions Trophy hit a global record for concurrency for any sporting event, and Mani notes that even regular matches are now breaking records previously set by major finals. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for final
Recent Examples of Synonyms for final
  1. last
  2. certain
  3. semifinal
  4. test
  5. latest
  6. stable
  7. championship
  8. exam
Adjective
  • Mark Vientos, who had a breakout season last year, has also struggled to hit, and especially hitting with runners on base.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • At this time last year, five homicides were reported in the city.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of last
Adjective
  • The report recommends a hard perimeter setup that would only allow emergency vehicles, deliveries and hotel drop-offs at certain times.
    — Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
    — Claire Franken, TVLine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of certain
Noun
  • The Duke faithful may still be reeling from the shock of losing the national semifinal to Houston despite a 6-point lead with the ball in the final minute, but hope springs eternal in Durham.
    — Dan Santaromita, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Even so, the Gators shocked the Tigers in Saturday’s semifinals of the Final Four after overcoming a nine-point deficit in the second half.
    — Terence Moore, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of semifinal
Noun
  • The official added that tests were also conducted to detect the presence of drugs such as fentanyl, and the results were negative.
    — Djenane Villanueva, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Where flood gauges will be put to the test The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Prediction Center has forecast that areas in Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri could expect major flooding.
    — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of test
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of latest
Adjective
  • Public Health For homeless seniors, finding stable housing takes a village — and a lot of luck But only 22 properties are likely to get full funding for their projects, most of them small, said a HUD staffer with knowledge of the program's status.
    — Jennifer Ludden, NPR, 6 Apr. 2025
  • In this challenging scenario, investors looking for stable income can add some dividend stocks trading at attractive levels to their portfolios.
    — TipRanks.com Staff, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of stable
Noun
  • The Cougars are still looking for the program’s first national championship in men’s basketball.
    — Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Eleven voters picked Duke to win the national championship, followed by six for Florida and five for Houston.
    — The Athletic College Basketball Staff, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of championship
Noun
  • Today, it’s frequented by locals before exams or important business meetings.
    — Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025
  • His physical exams were well within the normal range and his cognitive exams were exceptional.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of exam

Browse Nearby Words

finagling
final
finale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

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