CONCLUDE Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

conclude

verb

kən-ˈklüd

Definition of conclude

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to stop

to come to an end the concert concluded late in the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to arrange

to bring about through discussion and compromise concluded an economic agreement among the world's leading industrial nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to decide

to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration he concluded that the reprimand could wait until later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to understand

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information concluded that only the murderer could possibly have known that information

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Homecoming events at Florida A&M, a historically Black university with nearly 10,000 students enrolled, took place throughout the past week and had been scheduled to conclude Sunday, according to the university’s homecoming schedule. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 Investigators concluded that the carpets and padding were pushed out of Douglas Herlihy’s bedroom window, which was open when investigators visited. — Natasha Holt, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026 That was the message Matt Brittin left ringing in the ears of BBC staff when concluding a town hall last month. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Oct. 2026 Cinema on Wheels is taking three shorts from this year’s lineup on a free screening tour through Hurghada, Minya, Qena, Luxor and Aswan before concluding in Cairo, accompanied by discussions with audiences. — Essie Assibu, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conclude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclude

Verb

Letter writer second-guesses history of avoidant behavior after one phone argument ends a decades-long friendship.

— Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
In a shocking upset, a student movement resoundingly beat longtime Serbian leader President Aleksandar Vucic, ending his time in power after 14 years.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of end

Verb

Luigi Carbone, Pope Leo XIV's physician, said the pontiff's recovery from lung cancer surgery won't stop plans for a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru involving a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Another to stop solving problems his team brings him and teach them to solve it instead.

— Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

The hotel can also arrange more typical Lanai tourist activities—scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, or a day at the beach at the sister Four Seasons resort.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Lawyers in Russia eventually located him and arranged for legal visits, money for food and basic necessities, and the brief phone call with his son.

— Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

Trials in four other cases in which Sorrells’ predecessor, Sharen Wilson, decided to seek the death penalty, have occurred during Sorrells term.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
The next auto race will be decided by which country can excel at both.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of decide

Verb

Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

All broadcast pairings eventually end, but for Troy Aikman and Joe Buck to finish like this is both needless, and dirty.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026
The results were better on Monday, as the Heat’s starting unit finished as a plus-three in 12 minutes together.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of finish

Verb

After Epstein's 2019 arrest, federal prosecutors asked New Mexico to cease its own investigation of Epstein's activities in New Mexico.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
After dramatically reducing the number of children in hotels over the past three years, DHS ceased the practice entirely in November 2025.

— Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of cease

Verb

On the one hand, the relief came through energy, when Washington granted a series of short-term waivers that kept the NIS refinery running while Hungary’s MOL negotiated to buy out the Russian stake.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
With an unfriendly Congress, decisions about who pays and where cuts are made will also test Lula’s ability to negotiate.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Browse Nearby Words

conclaves

conclude

concluded

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Conclude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclude. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of conclude

verb

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