Conclusion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Conclusion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

1. an opinion arrived at through a process of reasoning

   "the detective's conclusion that the murderer had to be left-handed"

   similar: consequence, deduction, determination, eduction, induction, inference, sequitur
   related: decision, deliverance, diagnosis, judgment, resolution, ruling, verdict, conjecture, guess, surmise, assumption, presumption, supposition

2. a position arrived at after consideration

   "came to the conclusion that we couldn't go on vacation while the dog was sick"

   similar: award, call, decision, deliverance, determination, diagnosis, judgment, opinion, resolution, verdict
   related: behest, charge, commandment, decree, dictate, directive, edict, instruction, mandate, order, word, last word, say-so, adjudication, disposition, doom, finding, ruling, sentence, choice, option, selection, consensus, belief, conviction, eye, feeling, mind, notion, persuasion, sentiment, view
   near: deadlock, draw, halt, stalemate, standoff, tie

3. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

   "all their efforts came to no practical conclusion"

   similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, child, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
   related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
   opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
   near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

4. the last part of a process or action

   "the conclusion of the speech was a national call to arms"

   similar: capper, close, closing, consummation, end, endgame, ending, finale, finis, finish, grand finale, homestretch, mop-up, windup, wrap-up
   related: acme, apex, capstone, climax, copestone, coup de grâce, crescendo, crown, culmination, high-water mark, meridian, peak, pinnacle, summit, tip-top, top, zenith, aftermath, anticlimax, coda, epilogue, postscript, shank, tag end, tail end
   opposite: baseline, beginning, dawn, day one, nascence, nascency, opening, start
   near: foreword, introduction, overture, preamble, preface, prelude, prologue

5. the stopping of a process or activity

   "a bell signaled the conclusion of the event"

   similar: arrest, arrestment, cease, cessation, check, close, closedown, closure, cutoff, discontinuance, discontinuation, end, ending, expiration, finish, halt, lapse, offset, shutdown, shutoff, stay, stop, stoppage, surcease, termination
   related: mop-up, phaseout, abeyance, break, interruption, layoff, letup, moratorium, pause, standstill, suspension
   opposite: continuance, continuation
   near: extension, persistence, prolongation