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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of denouement
The eerily thrilling dénouement must be seen and heard to be believed.
—
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
The movie’s terrifying dénouement emerges in another seven-minute shot, in which hints and premonitions are transformed into passions and horrors and in which landscape—and, as per the title, a seascape—appear not simply as backdrops but as dramatic and intellectual engines of the story.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
By then, the staging — especially a scene-seating capsizing of the boat, which makes room for the lifeboat — was in place, and the gruesome denouement also remained.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025
In a tragic Lynchian dénouement, Richard Farnsworth, who played Alvin Straight, shot himself a year after the film was released.
—Barry Blitt, airmail.news, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2025
The movie’s terrifying dénouement emerges in another seven-minute shot, in which hints and premonitions are transformed into passions and horrors and in which landscape—and, as per the title, a seascape—appear not simply as backdrops but as dramatic and intellectual engines of the story.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2025
By then, the staging — especially a scene-seating capsizing of the boat, which makes room for the lifeboat — was in place, and the gruesome denouement also remained.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 21 Jan. 2025
In a tragic Lynchian dénouement, Richard Farnsworth, who played Alvin Straight, shot himself a year after the film was released.
—Barry Blitt, airmail.news, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for denouement
Recent Examples of Synonyms for denouement
Noun
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Strider’s next start is expected to be for Atlanta in the finale of a three-game series at Toronto that begins Monday, one year after having internal-brace elbow surgery.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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While Robby and the rest of the gang were finally able to clock out for the day at the end of the finale, a second season that will take place 10 months later and be set over the Fourth of July weekend is slated to premiere in January.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As previously reported, the actor is set to reprise his role on the offshoot, and this bit of info from Harvey, tying Hardman to Ted’s Big Bad, certainly helps piece together the why and how, as does, possibly, the episode’s ending.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
13 Apr. 2025
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Drake was also accused of refusing to identify a person who rewrote the ending of the film, and who was not a guild member.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Across the music world, other international artists — even those with far more name recognition and resources — are coming to the same conclusion.—
Alex Ashley,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
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Studies from New Zealand, Sweden, and elsewhere have come to similar conclusions, finding no negative effect of low levels of fluoride on IQ.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Flanagan has adapted numerous novels from King in the past, including The Life of Chuck, The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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Snow is best known for being part of the ensemble cast in Universal’s Pitch Perfect and its two sequels.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The lawsuits follow others regarding insurers’ handling of the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires, including against Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the California FAIR Plan (specifically about smoke damage), the state’s beleaguered insurance plan of last resort.—
Karla Marie Sanford,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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And in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s attacks, alumni pride—and donations—have swelled.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In just one transporting sequence that’s almost too much to take in, Coogler traces a line from the blues of the 1930s back to its origins and forward to its influences on funk and beyond.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
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This detonation will spew material at the other white dwarf, triggering the same devastating sequence.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Denouement.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/denouement. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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