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 When the Lindsay Clancy trial concludes soon, Patrick Clancy will remain a free man, regardless of online speculation about his guilt. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 So, what will governments, especially those allied to the United States, actually conclude? — Charles Edward Gehrke, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 By analyzing the tooth enamel, the stable isotope experts concluded that the soldiers’ diets were consistent with a European diet of wheat, barley and oats. — Jennifer Janofsky, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026 Ultimately, the school likely could not have done anything differently to prevent the tragedy, a newly release report, commissioned by the school, concluded. — Mark Reynolds, The Providence Journal, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for conclude

Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclude

Verb

However, the action may not end at 11pm — deal sheets allow clubs to conclude signings two hours after the transfer window closes, provided the correct paperwork is submitted before the deadline.

— Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Amid a scorching stretch, Bregman ends the month with his lifetime total now sitting at two.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of end

Verb

And, there are lots of studies out there that show many in my generation have stopped believing in the promise of the American Dream.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
His government has implemented policies that slow energy permitting and development, canceled billions in grants for hundreds of clean energy projects and spent nearly $4 billion to buy back leases to stop offshore wind projects.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of stop

Verb

Still, each guest enjoys their secluded villa, private spa time, and a personal guide to arrange hiking and water excursions like snorkeling and surfing.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Tafoya arranged for five blank checks paid as bribes by a marijuana firm to be cashed with the help of his brother and passed one $10,000 check on to marketer Chavez, according to the plea agreement.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Instead of starting with a new component, its engineers worked to understand the hardware already available to NAVAIR.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

The idea is to pressure Iran's hardline leadership enough that they are forced to come back to the negotiating table and/or cease aggression around the Strait of Hormuz.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
The one issue that could have been a distraction — Daniels’ attorney sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU in an effort to get the school to stop using Daniels’ name, image and likeness — appears not to have rattled the quarterback.

— Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of cease

Verb

The deal was negotiated by Steven Bestwick of The Yellow Affair and Bill Guentzler and RJ Millard on behalf of Obscured Releasing.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
If the lockout does go through all of 2027, do players not accrue any service time or will that be something that is negotiated/resolved when a deal is ultimately reached?

— Evan Drellich, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of negotiate

Browse Nearby Words

conclaves

conclude

concluded

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Style

“Conclude.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclude. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of conclude

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