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Synonyms

finishing touch

Idioms  
  1. A small change or addition that serves to complete something. For example, The room still needed a few finishing touches, such as a flower arrangement. This expression is sometimes put as a finishing stroke. [c. 1700]


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There’s often softness, too, ingredients that relax into the pot, and finally, a finishing touch, the small flourish that makes the whole thing feel complete.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2026

Gordon was given too much time by Chelsea's sloppy defence and the winger delivered a pin-point cross that invited a finishing touch.

From Barron's • Dec. 20, 2025

The Eastern League champions applied the finishing touch on Jauregui’s 12-yard run with 2:03 left.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2025

Mookie Betts stepped on second and fired the ball to first to put the finishing touch on what might have been the greatest Game 7 ever played, four hours and seven minutes after it began.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 2, 2025

A pair of green suspenders, more decorative than useful, gave the finishing touch, for he was shoeless and there was a twig tucked between the toes of one foot.

From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit

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