conclusive

adjective

con·​clu·​sive kən-ˈklü-siv How to pronounce conclusive (audio)
-ziv
1
: of, relating to, or being a conclusion
2
: putting an end to debate or question especially by reason of irrefutability
The results were not conclusive.
conclusively adverb
conclusiveness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for conclusive

conclusive, decisive, determinative, definitive mean bringing to an end.

conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

conclusive evidence

decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

a decisive battle

determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

the determinative factor in the court's decision

definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

the definitive biography

Examples of conclusive in a Sentence

the archeological discovery was conclusive proof that the Vikings had indeed settled in North America around 1000 A.D. a conclusive argument for allowing the students to put on a play of their own choosing
Recent Examples on the Web Some listeners would see The Downward Spiral as a loose concept album about a man falling apart, not unlike Roger Waters’ self-loathing megalomania that fuelled Pink Floyd’s The Wall—another major influence on the album, although Reznor would offer no conclusive ending to his narrative. Adam Steiner, SPIN, 8 Mar. 2024 Nine years later, per The Springfield News Ledger’s archived reporting, the Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab issued a warrant for Dwight – as well as another man – seeking DNA evidence allegedly connecting him to the killing, but the tests did not yield conclusive findings. Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2024 In any case, the jury's verdict was conclusive on the broader issue of whether Trump raped Carroll in some way, consistent with Carroll's post-verdict statements about rape, according to Kaplan. Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024 Tan noted that a deficiency of some specific vitamins, including B12, A and E, have been tied to deteriorating cognitive health, though the evidence isn’t conclusive. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2024 There is no conclusive proof the Sanofi vaccine was the cause of the deaths that occurred shortly after the vaccine rollout, and there is little information on whether there was a subsequent safety signal in the hundreds of thousands of children who were vaccinated. Stephen J. Thomas, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 But these were telltale clues, not conclusive proof. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024 Swarm is conclusive proof that Fishback, a veteran scene-stealer who often pulled attention and sympathies from the bigger names in the ensembles of The Deuce and Judas and the Black Messiah, can and should be at the top of the call sheet whenever possible. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2023 But the army has yet to provide conclusive proof of a subterranean military base. Karen Zraick, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'conclusive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see conclude

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conclusive was in 1536

Dictionary Entries Near conclusive

Cite this Entry

“Conclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conclusive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

conclusive

adjective
con·​clu·​sive kən-ˈklü-siv How to pronounce conclusive (audio)
-ziv
: decisive sense 1, convincing
conclusive proof
conclusively adverb
conclusiveness noun

Legal Definition

conclusive

adjective
con·​clu·​sive
1
: of, relating to, or being a conclusion
2
: putting an end to debate or question especially by reason of inability to be refuted
conclusively adverb
conclusiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on conclusive

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