FINISH Synonyms: 176 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'finish' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of finish are close , complete , conclude , end , and terminate . While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," finish may stress completion of a final step in a process. // after it is painted, the house will be finished

Q: When would 'close' be a good substitute for 'finish'?

The words close and finish can be used in similar contexts, but close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished. // close a debate

Q: When can 'complete' be used instead of 'finish'?

The synonyms complete and finish are sometimes interchangeable, but complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken. // the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Q: Where would 'conclude' be a reasonable alternative to 'finish'?

The meanings of conclude and finish largely overlap; however, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting). // the service concluded with a blessing

Q: When could 'end' be used to replace 'finish'?

Although the words end and finish have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality. // ended his life

Q: In what contexts can 'terminate' take the place of 'finish'?

The words terminate and finish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space. // your employment terminates after three months

finish 1 of 2

verb

ˈfi-nish

Definition of finish

as in to complete

to bring (something) to a state where nothing remains to be done we should finish the painting of the house by tomorrow

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to end

to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point we'll finish the concert before dark

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stop

to come to an end the three-day race finished yesterday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

finish

2 of 2

noun

as in ending

the last part of a process or action a pie-eating contest is the fair's traditional finish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in end

the stopping of a process or activity an all-out fight right to the finish

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb finish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of finish are close, complete, conclude, end, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When would close be a good substitute for finish?

The words close and finish can be used in similar contexts, but close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When can complete be used instead of finish?

The synonyms complete and finish are sometimes interchangeable, but complete implies the removal of all deficiencies or a successful finishing of what has been undertaken.

the resolving of this last issue completes the agreement

Where would conclude be a reasonable alternative to finish?

The meanings of conclude and finish largely overlap; however, conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

When could end be used to replace finish?

Although the words end and finish have much in common, end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can terminate take the place of finish?

The words terminate and finish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, terminate implies the setting of a limit in time or space.

your employment terminates after three months

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 finish

Verb

The franchise man continues to build a strong rapport with his receivers, finishing 23-of-41 for 276 yards with a touchdown pass to Matthew Golden, who led the game with 104 yards on six grabs. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026 In its third weekend, Digger grossed just $920,000, finishing 15th—13 spots behind You Can See Everything. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026

Noun

Early Harvest Extra Virgin Olive Oil is harvested early in the season at peak polyphenol levels, for a bold, grassy character with notes of green tomato, artichoke, and a signature peppery finish. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 That allowed Ojeda, just inside the top of the 18-yard box, to chip a first-touch pass over four defenders to a charging Griezmann on the give-and-go for a first-touch finish from 7 yards out. — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for finish

Verb

Pair it with the matching Cherry Check toaster and flameless dinner candles to complete the look from the kitchen to the dining room—after all, each piece is on clearance.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 21 Oct. 2026
The team also completed a critical-design review, another milestone in preparing the technology for delivery.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of complete

Verb

The second was collapsing supermassive stars, which end their lives as supernovae.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
But little progress has been made towards implementing a deal to end the conflict that includes terms for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw its troops.

— Reuters, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of end

Verb

That has left many companies unable to stop the theft of American IP and made investment riskier.

— Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Project Nessie was intended to stop retail price-matching practices from creating unsustainably low prices, the e-commerce giant said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Noun

Spanish police have recovered three religious artworks stolen from churches in Valladolid over the summer, bringing the case one step closer to a miraculously happy ending.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Lil’ Randy shouts repeatedly as he is hauled off, a great ending to a pretty great episode.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ending

Noun

Ideally, a reciprocal halt in long-range air and missile attacks could then be replicated across other sectors—maritime, commercial, and transportation—thus forming the basis of a broader aerial cease-fire.

— Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
President Iliana Yotova called for an immediate halt to hostilities in the Black Sea and a moratorium on drone attacks against commercial and civilian infrastructure, following the latest drone attacks.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of halt

Verb

Both the United States and a United Nations investigation concluded that the shootdown happened over international waters.

— Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
The arrest, the official explained, came after the Attorney General’s Office concluded that there had been misconduct in an April operation in which state officials dismantled a clandestine drug-manufacturing laboratory.

— Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of conclude

Verb

Her status as a special envoy expired last month without renewal, and she has now been moved to another role.

— Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2026
With a pending lockout, expiring player contracts and possible retirements, who knows what the future will hold.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of expire

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finises

finish

finished

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Style

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

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Synonyms of finish

verb

noun

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Synonyms of finish

verb

noun

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on finish

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