The talented young chess player is very bold. He deliberately lays himself open to attack, makes himself vulnerable and then checkmates his opponent when least expected.
Source: tatoeba (67775)
Checkmates
Synonyms for "checkmates" (9 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (2)
Noun(2 words)
defeatending move
Strong matches (3)
Noun(3 words)
final movefinal positiongame end
Related words (4)
Noun(4 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: defeat, ending move, final move, final position, game end.
- Sentence evidence is available for checkmates, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from opengloss.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "checkmates".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "checkmates"
Keep "checkmates" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "checkmates" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "checkmates", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "checkmates" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
5 entriesMore specific
10 entriesBack rank mateFool's mateFools mateForcing sequenceMating netScholars mateSmothered matelegal checkmatenegotiation checkmatepolitical checkmate
Collocations
11 entriesboard positionconsecutive checkmatesendgame checkmatesmate in onemate in twomultiple checkmatesrapid checkmatesrecord checkmatesthe kingthe opponentthe queen
Inflections
2 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
2 total sentences available.
White: rook on a1, pawn on b6, king on c8. Black: pawns on a7 and b7, king on a8, bishop on b8. White puts the opponent in zugzwang by playing the rook to a6, after which Black has only two options: take the rook on a6 or move his bishop to any other square on the diagonal b8-h2. In the first case, White advances his pawn from b6 to b7 and checkmates. In the second situation, the white rook takes the black pawn on a7, with the same result.
Source: tatoeba (9955742)
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "checkmates"?
Closest matches include defeat, ending move, final move, final position, game end.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "checkmates"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.