末に|すえに

After a long process, effort or series of events; 'in the end', 'after much …'. It marks the lengthy process that finally led to the outcome in the main clause.

It is a somewhat formal expression, common in writing, news reports and narratives. The main clause often contains ようやく, ついに or やっと to stress the final result after long effort. Unlike あげく, the outcome may be positive, neutral or negative.

• あげくN2「あげく」attaches the same way, but its result is usually bad or unexpected, carrying regret or resignation; good results generally call for「末に」. There is also「あげくの果てに」, indicating a situation gradually worsening. Its register is neutral, while「末に」leans written.
• 結果N3「結果」attaches the same way as「末に」(verb た-form, noun + の) and is often interchangeable, but its tone is objective and detached, without emphasizing a long, winding process. It also works in speech and can link back to preceding text as「その結果」.
• 上でN3When「上で」means 'after doing...', the first item is a necessary prerequisite for the second, and the second is usually a volitional action;「末に」emphasizes the final outcome after twists and turns. Both「検討した末に決めた」and「検討した上で決めた」are correct, just with different emphasis.
• てからというものN1「てからというもの」takes some event as a turning point and describes a state or repeated behavior continuing from then until now; it does not take one-time results, while「末に」describes the final result after a long process. It attaches to the verb て-form, and the two cannot be interchanged.

た末 / の末 is the same construction without に (e.g. 考えた末の決断). あげく and たあげく also follow a long process but usually lead to a bad or regrettable result, while 結果 simply states a consequence without stressing long effort. 上で marks a prerequisite step before a next action, and てからというもの describes a lasting change since a certain event, not a final outcome.