as in final
formal
occurring immediately before the last one; next to the last
the penultimate chapter of the book the penultimate syllable of the word
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Recent Examples of penultimate
That would leave 2025 as the penultimate edition in Utah.
—
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
Ahead of the penultimate matchday, Liverpool are the only side whose qualification for the round of 16 lies squarely in their own hands.
—Elias Burke, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Perhaps there was vindication in the way this NFC divisional game ended — with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit stopping a Rams rally short after surrendering a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive on the penultimate possession.
—Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Installed during the penultimate flight of the space shuttle in May 2011, the AMS is a particle physics experiment designed to measure antimatter in cosmic rays in the pursuit of learning more about mysterious dark matter.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for penultimate 
Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 22 Jan. 2025
Ahead of the penultimate matchday, Liverpool are the only side whose qualification for the round of 16 lies squarely in their own hands.
—Elias Burke, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
Perhaps there was vindication in the way this NFC divisional game ended — with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s unit stopping a Rams rally short after surrendering a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive on the penultimate possession.
—Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Installed during the penultimate flight of the space shuttle in May 2011, the AMS is a particle physics experiment designed to measure antimatter in cosmic rays in the pursuit of learning more about mysterious dark matter.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for penultimate
Thesaurus Entries Near penultimate
Cite this Entry
“Penultimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/penultimate. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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