final boss

Noun

final boss (plural final bosses)

1. An extremely powerful enemy that a player fights at the end of a campaign or story.
2. (figuratively, informal) The best or ultimate example of something; an epitome.
   • 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.2021 October 14, Nicole Lewis, “Dave Chappelle Accomplished Exactly What He Wanted To”, in Slate, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2023
   • Take one look at the tools here and it quickly becomes clear that this is the final boss of makerspaces.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, London: Guardian News & Media...
3. (figuratively, informal) An extremely difficult thing that one needs to finish or beat in order to complete some task.
   • 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.2021 November 2, Greer Glassman, “Why KitchenAid Stand Mixers Are Worth It, According to Chefs”, in VICE, archived from the original on 31 May 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...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, London: Guardian News & Media...