ultimatum
Last-chance demand
An ultimatum is a final demand or set of terms, with the implicit or explicit threat that rejection will end negotiations or trigger consequences: The union issued an ultimatum: meet our demands or we strike.
The word carries a sense of finality—after an ultimatum, there's no more discussion.
Often used in diplomacy and labor disputes, but also in personal relationships where one party forces a decision: She gave him an ultimatum about the drinking.
Decisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
- impasseSituation without resolution
stalemate · tension · escalation · challenge · provocation
Mandatory condition to fulfill
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- conditionState or stipulation
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
- directiveFormal command or instruction
command · order · edict · injunction · dictate · decree · terms · insistence
Cannot be undone
- definitiveSettling a question finally
- conclusiveEnding all debate
- categoricalUnconditional and explicit
- unequivocalAllowing one meaning only
absolute · non-negotiable · take-it-or-leave-it · all-or-nothing · endgame · do-or-die
Negotiation between nations
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- talksSpeaks with others
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
- arbitrationNon-court binding dispute resolution
leverage · concession · hardball · walkout · breakdown · dealbreaker · strong-arm · capitulation
showdown
Decisive final confrontation
- standoffUnresolved confrontation between opponents
- face-offDirect clash between opponents
- brinkmanshipPushing conflicts to disaster's threshold
impasse · stalemate · tension · escalation · challenge · provocation
requirement
Mandatory condition to fulfill
- stipulationCondition in an agreement
- conditionState or stipulation
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
directive · command · order · edict · injunction · dictate · decree · terms · insistence · precondition
irrevocable
Cannot be undone
- definitiveSettling a question finally
- conclusiveEnding all debate
- categoricalUnconditional and explicit
unequivocal · absolute · non-negotiable · take-it-or-leave-it · all-or-nothing · endgame · do-or-die
diplomacy
Negotiation between nations
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- talksSpeaks with others
- mediationIntervention to resolve conflict
arbitration · leverage · concession · hardball · walkout · breakdown · dealbreaker · strong-arm · capitulation · surrender
timeframe
Designated duration for something
- expirationEnd of validity
- cutoffPoint of termination
- countdownBackward enumeration to zero
- soap operassoap opera, telenovela, melodrama, cliffhanger, amnesia
- Latin Wordsad, ad nauseam, et, caveat emptor, affidavit
- 19th Century Diplomacyambassador, ambassadors, envoy, envoys, Congress of Vienna
- dilemmasdilemma, moral dilemma, ethical dilemma, tough call, lesser evil
- diplomatic documentstreaty, accord, communique, protocol, diplomatic note
- manipulation tacticsgaslighting, guilt trip, guilt-tripping, guilt tripping, emotional blackmail
ultimatumsuggestion
Idea proposed for consideration
request · invitation · proposal · plea · entreaty
ultimatumopening offer
Initial price proposed
opening bid · starting point · first draft · trial balloon · feeler
ultimatumcompromise
Agreement through mutual sacrifice
mutual agreement · negotiation · give-and-take · concession · olive branch
- ultimate goalFinal desired outcome
- ultimate sacrificeDying for a cause
- paid the ultimate priceDied for something
- ultimate showdownConclusive decisive conflict
- ultimate battleLast decisive conflict
- ultimate frisbeeTeam sport with thrown disc
ultimate, ultimately, penultimate, ultimatums, ultimate frisbee