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denouement

denouement / denouement
Noun
pl: denouements

This term carries a sophisticated, theatrical quality, evoking the image of a knot being untied. It describes the specific moment of release where tension dissipates and clarity emerges, rather than just a generic ending. It is most frequently used in literary criticism or high-register descriptions of complex real-world dramas. As a noun, it is typically treated as a countable entity, referring to the specific concluding sequence of a narrative. While it describes a process of resolution, it functions as a discrete event or section of a plot.

Meanings

Noundenouement

The final resolution or clarification of the plot in a novel, play, or movie.

"The film reaches its denouement when the detective finally reveals the killer."

Noundenouement

The final outcome or conclusion of a complex series of events in real life.

"Everyone waited in suspense for the denouement of the political scandal."

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Last Updated: June 18, 2026Report an Error