FINAL Synonyms: 180 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

final 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfī-nᵊl

Definition of final

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

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

as in semifinal

Related Words

as in test

Related 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

Highlands has proposed repaying the state through deductions from future state funding, but the bankruptcy court deferred a decision on that proposal until the final hearing in November. — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The Guardians then found a way to score another five runs in the final two frames of the game. — Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Noun

Following defeat in this summer’s World Cup final, the Argentine captain penned a handwritten letter explaining his decision to step down from the national team. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 Novak Djokovic was handed the China Open trophy after Alex de Minaur retired injured in the final on Tuesday. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for final

Recent Examples of Synonyms for final

Adjective

One flight last week leaving from al-Qassim airport north of Riyadh to Geneva, sold for €94,000 ($105,000), compared with a price of about €60,000 ($67,000) before the closure of the main airport in Riyadh.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
As of last week, Moore is calling offensive plays for the Cougars, and the team has also made a change at quarterback.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of last

Adjective

People with the second phenotype, called durable, might have grown up in a predictable world—for example, a strict religious sect or just a family that experienced little change—and developed only certain coping strategies as a result.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Whether the 6-foot-9, 240-pound former Purdue forward actually enters the game is less certain.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of certain

Noun

Kotzmacher helped put White Bear Lake into that semifinal, hitting a seventh-inning, two-run home run in a 3–1 quarterfinal victory over Farmington.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
In her latest clutch playoff performance, Williams scored eight of her 16 points in overtime of Friday’s 87-77 victory at Las Vegas to sweep the best-of-five semifinal.

— Janie Mccauley, Hartford Courant, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of semifinal

Noun

Japan's Self-Defense Force has introduced its first long-range Type-25 land-to-ship missile to Yonaguni during the drill, though no test-firing is planned.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
Whether this broader metabolic shift can improve psychiatric symptoms is now being put to the test.

— Rowan Jacobsen, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

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 American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.

— Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023

Definition of latest

Adjective

Compact optical clocks could eventually contribute to such systems by providing stable timing references onboard vehicles, reducing dependence on external signals.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
Under some circumstances, however, solutions exist that allow for a stable system even if two such planets interact.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stable

Noun

Though Ohtani’s arrival kicked off the Dodgers’ back-to-back championships, this isn’t his first time slumping in the postseason.

— Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
In just the last two years, the team won back-to-back championships and ranked among the league’s top three most expensive payrolls.

— Isaac Tellechea, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of championship

Noun

But students in more affluent schools, where Asian American students are concentrated, must perform better on the standardized exam to enter the lottery.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Instead, diagnosis requires a comprehensive evaluation that may include neurological exams, MRI scans and laboratory testing.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of exam

Browse Nearby Words

finagling

final

finale

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Style

“Final.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/final. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of final

adjective

noun

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