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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Recent Examples of denouement
Instead, there’s a denouement of clarity, community, healing and hope.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
-
New York dropped to 7-2 while the Marlins (6-3) salvaged the finale of a three-game series.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
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Roberts said Betts won’t play in Sunday’s series finale against the Washington Nationals, and his availability for the series in Toronto beginning Monday won’t be determined until after the results of the MRI are known.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Lakers’ Hollywood ending appears ready to dissolve like so many dreams on a casting couch with news that Luca Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) will miss the remainder of the regular season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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The couple waved to the cameras before riding off in a vintage Jaguar—the perfect ending to a gorgeous (and extremely well-publicized) day.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The amazingly rapid reconstruction project came to a conclusion in December 2024.—
David A. Bell,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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Another great example of this in action is KPMG’s new early career program focused on human qualities such as critical thinking, data analysis, and drawing conclusions rather than technical know-how.—
Teuila Hanson,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Kirsten Dunst will join the sequel while Sweeney and Michele Morrone will reprise their roles, as will Feig and screenwriter Rebecca Sonnenshine.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The original film and its sequel Happy Feet Two, both directed by George Miller, grossed more than $847 million worldwide.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As investigators worked the scene, CBS News Atlanta was the only station there in the immediate aftermath.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Estimates of people killed and injured can vary wildly in the immediate aftermath of gang attacks in Haiti because of limited communication and authorities' inability to enter the area.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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