ultimatum

noun

ul·ti·ma·tum ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-təm

-ˈmä-

plural ultimatums or ultimata ˌəl-tə-ˈmā-tə

-ˈmä-

: a final proposition, condition, or demand

especially : one whose rejection will end negotiations and cause a resort to force or other direct action

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An ultimatum is usually issued by a stronger power to a weaker one, since it wouldn't carry much weight if the one giving the ultimatum couldn't back up its threat. Near the end of World War II, the Allied powers issued an ultimatum to Japan: surrender completely or face the consequences. Japan rejected the ultimatum, and within days the U.S. had dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing some 200,000 people.

Example Sentences

She was given an ultimatum—work harder or lose her job. issued the ultimatum that the project be finished by the following week, or it would be terminated

Recent Examples on the Web Some sales employees who opted to stay after Musk's ultimatum were reportedly laid off shortly after.

Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 22 Nov. 2022 Preliminary data at the company shows that as many as 1,200 Twitter workers left in response to Musk’s ultimatum.

Bychloe Berger, Fortune, 22 Nov. 2022 And that was before last week’s ultimatum, when more workers quit.

Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Nov. 2022 That is because in the ultimatum email, Mr. Musk said those who opt to leave the company would receive three months of severance.

Sarah E. Needleman, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022 Musk sent a companywide ultimatum on Wednesday morning that Twitter employees must commit or resign by Thursday evening, according to an email from Musk obtained by ABC News.

Zunaira Zaki, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2022 Hundreds of employees have reportedly opted to quit following Elon Musk’s Wednesday ultimatum to staff.

Pranshu Verma, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2022 Twitter offices are shutting down and employees are leaving in droves following an ultimatum from Elon Musk on Wednesday.

Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 17 Nov. 2022 On Wednesday morning, Musk sent an email to Twitter staff, offering an ultimatum.

Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 16 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ultimatum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.