final boss

English

Pronunciation

Audio (US): (file)

Noun

final boss (plural final bosses)

(video games) An extremely powerful enemy that a player fights at the end of a campaign or story.
(figuratively, informal) The best or ultimate example of something; an epitome.
- 2021 October 14, Nicole Lewis, “Dave Chappelle Accomplished Exactly What He Wanted To”, in Slate‎^[1], archived from the original on 2023-03-22:
  The line that runs through all of Chappelle's comedy is that anti-Blackness is the Final Boss of all oppressions. Everyone else's pain and suffering isn't as bad by comparison, and therefore doesn't deserve the level of outrage and attention it currently gets in progressive circles.
- 2022 February 10, Oliver Wainwright, “Need a lathe or a laser cutter? Come to Bloqs – Britain's biggest open-access factory”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[2], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-10:
  Take one look at the tools here and it quickly becomes clear that this is the final boss of makerspaces.
- 2023 March 16, Niomi Harris, “Gwyneth Paltrow looks glam in a chic black and blue dress while celebrating the launch of Goop's new eye cream - after being branded an 'almond mom' for sharing wellness routine”, in Daily Mail‎^[3], London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-03-23:
  'gwyneth paltrow is like the final boss of all almond moms and she needs to be stopped', tweeted a fourth.
(figuratively, informal) An extremely difficult thing that one needs to finish or beat in order to complete some task.
- 2021 November 2, Greer Glassman, “Why KitchenAid Stand Mixers Are Worth It, According to Chefs”, in VICE‎^[4], archived from the original on 2023-05-31:
  That's a lot of mixing, kneading, and beating, and there's nothing that does it all quite like a KitchenAid stand mixer, the iconic kitchen counter appliance that feels like the final boss of reaching your full Martha Stewart potential.
- 2023 February 14, Chris Stein, “Republican 2024 race heats up as Trump rival Nikki Haley announces run – as it happened”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian‎^[5], London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 9 July 2023:
  First of all, there's Donald Trump. Not only has he already declared his run, but poll after poll indicate he's the frontrunner among potential GOP contenders. Consider him the final boss of this election's Republican primary – but as any video gamer knows, your last adversary isn't always the most difficult to overcome. The former president, after all, has no shortage of liabilities.
- 2023 May 8, Joe Supan, “What's the Best Way to Pack a Moving Box?”, in CNET‎^[6], archived from the original on 2023-06-01:
  The kitchen is the final boss of any packing adventure. Because there are so many breakable items, make sure you dedicate enough time to packing your dishes properly.

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