variants
also dénouement
as in finale
formal
the final part of something (such as a book, a play, or a series of events)
In the play's denouement, the two lovers kill themselves. the competition's exciting denouement
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denouement
While the film tends to feel its extended run time by the final act, the dénouement hits with a glorious gut-punch, ending on one last poem from Rimantas as Minde sits on the seashore-like driftwood.
—
Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Grey’s novel is a literary protest against the mistreatment of American Indians by the federal government and Christian missionaries, and his original denouement is a little more complicated.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But then things suddenly get very serious when Zem and Salia wind up falling in love, leading to a tragic denouement at the hands of ALMA, followed by an obvious music cue that must have cost a fortune.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Growing up as an American, I was surrounded by cultural narratives that treated the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the denouement of a story, one that began with the attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on V-J Day.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Courtney Howard, Variety, 30 Oct. 2025
To be sure, Grey’s novel is a literary protest against the mistreatment of American Indians by the federal government and Christian missionaries, and his original denouement is a little more complicated.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
But then things suddenly get very serious when Zem and Salia wind up falling in love, leading to a tragic denouement at the hands of ALMA, followed by an obvious music cue that must have cost a fortune.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
Growing up as an American, I was surrounded by cultural narratives that treated the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the denouement of a story, one that began with the attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on V-J Day.
—Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
-
The results were solid, with three exciting mini-games in the round-robin tournament all going down to the buzzer before the blowout finale.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
As a team, A&M had 12 hits and one walk in the series finale.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Edwards forced overtime with a clutch three-pointer before Scottie Barnes hit a game-ending, overtime three-pointer for his team in the opening mini-game against the World.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Astronomers are used to dramatic endings.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Of those, 15 have been concluded and 10 are at or near conclusion.—
STEPHEN GROVES,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Dearest gentle readers, the time has nearly come for the conclusion of Bridgerton Season 4.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The two discussed making the sequel to the original 2016 hit, figuring out where to take the characters and world in the new movie, and bringing the scene between Nick and Judy to life.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
10 Feb. 2026
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The sequel, which started shooting in Canada in September and is now in post, brings back Ry Barrett as Johnny, a vengeful, undead killer who embarks on a bloody rampage after a group of teens steal a golden locket that awakens his spirit.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the aftermath of four surgeries, Simmons only has dexterity in his index fingers and thumbs.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
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The bodycam video was an eye-opening look at the frightening aftermath of the Brown campus shooting when police were searching room-by-room for the suspect, trying to comfort and care for terrified students, and trying to coordinate with campus police to get past locked doors.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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