climax 1 of 2

Definition of climaxnext

climax

2 of 2

verb

as in to finish
to bring to a triumphant conclusion organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun climax differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of climax are acme, apex, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to climax?

In some situations, the words acme and climax are roughly equivalent. However, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When is apex a more appropriate choice than climax?

Although the words apex and climax have much in common, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When would culmination be a good substitute for climax?

The words culmination and climax can be used in similar contexts, but culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When can peak be used instead of climax?

While the synonyms peak and climax are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

In what contexts can pinnacle take the place of climax?

The meanings of pinnacle and climax largely overlap; however, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When is it sensible to use summit instead of climax?

The synonyms summit and climax are sometimes interchangeable, but summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of climax
Noun
The slow dance came to a climax on June 9 — which is depicted in the far right panel — when skywatchers worldwide were treated to a dramatic planetary conjunction as Jupiter and Venus shone less than 2 degrees away from one another above the western horizon. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 June 2026 Because Spielberg occasionally collaborates with his buddy George Lucas, Indy (Harrison Ford) isn’t encountering any straightforward aliens from another world during the film’s loopy climax. Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Verb
But that’s exactly how the night climaxed on Friday (March 27) when the uncanny Argentine duo CA7RIEL y Paco Amoroso took over Canvas on 10th in Chelsea, New York to perform their electrifying new album, Free Spirits, for the first time. Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2026 Cosmic beings, this week opens with the Last Quarter Moon in Scorpio, a liminal checkpoint between what has already climaxed and what is about to be reborn. Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for climax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climax
Noun
  • Despite a few glimmers of good feeling, today's fierce political divisions have redefined a milestone that has often been marked by unity and optimism, at least for a moment.
    Susan Page, USA Today, 22 June 2026
  • The Phillies' turnaround following the dismissal of manager Rob Thomson reached a new milestone when two of the franchise’s biggest stars delivered a historic performance.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 June 2026
Noun
  • The culmination of the event saw people filtering into the shore to create a circle of colorful surfboards dotted with flowers to toss into the ocean to honor ancestors, invoke healing and celebrate the relationship between Black people and the ocean.
    Gabrielle Gillette, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
  • This achievement is the culmination of over 605,000 man-hours of work to remove century-old constraints that no longer matched the competitive realities of modern trade.
    Wes Moore, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The Charlotte City Council voted to select Harrington to finish out the term of Mayor Vi Lyles, which ends in December 2027.
    Mary Ramsey Updated June 22, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026
  • Each team will need to finish either in its group’s top two or rank in the top eight third-place teams to advance to the round of 32.
    Joy Burton, NBC news, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Signups are open for Exploring Our Sense of Place, San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy’s program of excursions that dives deeply into the watershed’s natural and cultural history while reinforcing participants’ connection to the nature that surrounds them.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 June 2026
  • Loch Raven’s 8,000-acre watershed surrounds its eponymous reservoir.
    Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • The pinnacle of their trip was a private session with a renowned tinware master in Takaoka, a city famous for its centuries-old metalworking heritage.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026
  • Because what is death but the pinnacle of humans’ lack of agency.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Importantly, none of these children had completed the primary tetanus vaccination series.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • The semitrailer was carrying roughly 50,000 pounds of bees when the driver failed to complete a turn and tipped over, according to local radio station KOGT.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • LondonReuters — King Charles will not live at Buckingham Palace after its 10-year refurbishment finishes next year, royal officials said on Thursday, ending nearly two centuries of the central London landmark serving as the British monarch’s primary residence.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Fifty years later the beloved landmark was empty and ripe for reimagining.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Piero Gandini, son of Sergio Gandini who purchased Flos in 1964 and pioneered its zenith, was appointed executive chairman of the entire conglomerate in 2025, after veteran luxury executive Daniel Lalonde stepped down in December 2025.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
  • Instead, all of those previous experiments have culminated in Messi's World Cup zenith now.
    Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Climax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climax. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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