conclude

Definition of concludenext
1
as in to end
to bring (an event) to a natural or appropriate stopping point a brief reminder of tonight's game concluded the announcements

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb conclude differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of conclude are close, complete, end, finish, and terminate. While all these words mean "to bring or come to a stopping point or limit," conclude may imply a formal closing (as of a meeting).

the service concluded with a blessing

Where would close be a reasonable alternative to conclude?

While the synonyms close and conclude are close in meaning, close usually implies that something has been in some way open as well as unfinished.

close a debate

When is it sensible to use complete instead of conclude?

The meanings of complete and conclude largely overlap; however, 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

When might end be a better fit than conclude?

The synonyms end and conclude are sometimes interchangeable, but end conveys a strong sense of finality.

ended his life

In what contexts can finish take the place of conclude?

The words finish and conclude can be used in similar contexts, but finish may stress completion of a final step in a process.

after it is painted, the house will be finished

When could terminate be used to replace conclude?

In some situations, the words terminate and conclude are roughly equivalent. However, 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 conclude This real-life drama will likely conclude one way or the other before the end of the Games. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026 The Government Accountability Office last year concluded that the contract was not improper. Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026 The commission appointed a white woman after concluding that Bowden-Lewis’s candidate did not have the employment history needed to meet state personnel requirements. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 6 Feb. 2026 The exact start time depends on the pace of the game, but the halftime show typically begins after the first two quarters conclude. Holly Alvarado, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conclude
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclude
Verb
  • Now a rather similar squad is tasked with ending the title drought.
    Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Connor also ended things with Emma after telling her about his strong connection with Bri.
    Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • From open models to real-world applications, China has shown that constraints have not stopped it from gaining ground.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
  • From there, James made second-team All-NBA the next season and didn’t stop landing on one of the three teams until this season.
    Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Prosecutors claim Sainz Salazar served as a key fentanyl producer for the Chapitos from about 2022 through 2025, helping manufacture millions of pills, arranging drug transactions under armed protection and operating labs that later became central to the group’s fentanyl production.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Mustique also has a small hotel, Cotton House, where 17 guest rooms and suites are arranged between a two-story building and a series of garden cottages.
    Flora Stubbs, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Monitoring high-level athletes for drug misuse is nothing new, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) surprised many people recently by deciding to track the use of GLP-1 drugs, such as the diabetes and obesity treatments Ozempic (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).
    Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
    Staff Reports, The Providence Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
  • Those many Americans who still understand that freedom is the magic elixir that drives growth and prosperity are exiting blue states, leaving them to stew in their left-wing, socialist, low-growth and low-opportunity juices.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Seven top-five Cy Young finishes, with one trophy?
    Jayson Stark, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Stoddard was stunned as Kanai got up and finished behind Wang.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • University of Arkansas men's basketball Coach John Calipari has ceased box-out drills.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Based on the timeline laid out by the district attorney’s office, all attempts to find Proctor ceased after Gascón was defeated by current Los Angeles County Dist.
    Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The district decided to purchase fewer buses this year and opted not to give teachers a raise, negotiating a one-time bonus instead.
    Carley Lanich, IndyStar, 10 Feb. 2026
  • The English language distribution rights are still being negotiated.
    Zac Ntim, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Conclude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclude. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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