SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
ultimatum
noun
A final demand backed by a threatened consequence.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Final demand
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topAn ultimatum couples a final demand with a consequence for refusal. A deadline alone only sets a time limit, and a warning need not demand an action.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See ultimatum in use
The landlord issued an ultimatum to remove the debris by Friday.
Two student groups shared a set of portable display boards, and one organizer tried to compel the other group to surrender its reserved afternoon. His ultimatum was explicit: accept the new schedule by noon or lose access to the boards for the rest of the term.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license