conclusion

noun

kən-ˈklü-zhən How to pronounce conclusion (audio)
Definition of conclusionnext
1
as in inference
an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning the detective's conclusion that the murderer had to be left-handed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in decision
a position arrived at after consideration came to the conclusion that we couldn't go on vacation while the dog was sick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outcome
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause all their efforts came to no practical conclusion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ending
the last part of a process or action the conclusion of the speech was a national call to arms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in cessation
the stopping of a process or activity a bell signaled the conclusion of the event

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 conclusion That case went to trial in Oakland earlier this month, and was expected to last for weeks, but came to a sudden conclusion on Wednesday. — Nathaniel Lubin, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026 While organizations want access to increasingly powerful AI capabilities, many are reaching the inevitable conclusion that having true ownership over their proprietary data far outweighs the benefits of using the newest or largest-hosted model. — Pavel Bykov, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Fortunately for traffic levels, Minnesota Highway 280 is back open in both directions, an on-time conclusion to a lengthy closure for resurfacing projects. — Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 27 Aug. 2026 The player must then choose between different conclusions to the story. — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conclusion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclusion
  1. inference
  2. decision
  3. outcome
  4. ending
  5. cessation
  6. deduction
  7. opinion
  8. result
Noun
  • Monetization through ads will help OpenAI partially cover the cost of generating inference for a query and stem the company's losses, experts said.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The researchers then use classifier guidance at inference time to steer the diffusion model toward objectives that were not included during training.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of inference
Noun
  • Kroenke’s decision to purchase the Angels at a record $4 billion valuation has not impacted Trout’s plans to remain in Southern California.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The games present overly simplified worlds devoid of civilians, children, and animals, and there are no lasting consequences for players’ decisions.
    — Susan Page, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of decision
Noun
  • Channel 4 insiders are certainly not unhappy with the outcome.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Such an outcome would amount to a transformation in the transatlantic alliance.
    — JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • At Mattel, cultural relevance came with a blockbuster ending.
    — Phil Wahba, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this summer, speculation regarding Ariana Grande’s weight and body image reached a fever pitch after the singer announced her retreat from public life following the ending of her ongoing tour next week.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of ending
Noun
  • Those commitments should be included in a framework agreement, signed by all sides, which outlines the core elements of an eventual peace and enables a cessation of hostilities.
    — Matt Waldman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Texas law defines brain death as the irreversible cessation of brain function.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of cessation
Noun
  • Sami claimed deductions totaling about $98,000 over three years as charitable and marketing expenses.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Last year, Congress passed a bipartisan update to the tax code that included a new non-itemizer charitable deduction.
    — Dale Bannon, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of deduction
Noun
  • In an unsigned opinion, a majority of the justices said the administration is likely to win its argument that the group suing to stop construction cannot show its been sufficiently harmed.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Capricorn December 22 – January 19 Someone close to you may arrive with urgency, opinions, and absolutely no interest in waiting.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of opinion
Noun
  • That result allows the cell to be classified as all-solid-state under the Chinese standard.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The result looks less like a blade simply ground into shape and more like a form sculpted directly from solid steel.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of result

Phrases Containing conclusion

Browse Nearby Words

concluding
conclusion
conclusions
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conclusion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclusion. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All