climactic

adjective

klī-ˈmak-tik How to pronounce climactic (audio)
Definition of climacticnext
as in apocalyptic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point the French Revolution is usually regarded as one of the climactic events in modern European history

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 climactic In the episode's climactic bridge showdown, the tone shifts to another '90s classic, as Jim Kirk goads Reeger into a confession about the Constitution scandal. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026 But the band fury is as climactic as anything that could be done continuing to have the full ensemble play… and Dudamel looked happy enough to put his baton down, turn around and just watch the group play for a few minutes. — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026 North by Northwest contains several of the most thrilling sequences in the director’s filmography, including the darkly comedic drunk driving scene, the showdown with the crop duster, and the climactic chase atop Mount Rushmore. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 One especially colorful backdrop punctuates a climactic scene in which Einbinder and Anderson walk hand-in-hand, covered in blood. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
  1. apocalyptic
  2. pivotal
  3. critical
  4. decisive
  5. climacteric
  6. crucial
  7. watershed
Adjective
  • Against a largely black palette, flashes of alarm red and bubblegum pink heightened the collection’s apocalyptic ethos.
    — Livia Caligor, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Mythical beings hover over apocalyptic scenes crowded with tiny, ghostly figures, which seem to emerge from the paint.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Adjective
  • Most state lawmakers understand this, but some pivotal decisions are being made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
    — Max Harden, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Show more Days before Tuesday’s pivotal Israeli election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked his country by offering a bleak economic forecast that critics said could make Israel more like Iran, Russia and North Korea.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • Key Takeaways These artificial channels are up to five times more selective for lithium, offering a simpler way to extract the critical battery material.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Seeking to acquire as wide a tent of support as possible, Student List purposefully left its position on most critical issues outside of corruption vague and noncommittal.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • The decisive Game 7 will be played at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday night as each team seeks its first WNBA championship.
    — Charles Odum, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
  • That means party switchers could be a decisive voting block in Tuesday’s statewide races.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of decisive
Adjective
  • Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
  • For this reader, roughly the same age as Sam Raymond, there is uncommon pleasure in the paradoxes of this climacteric tale.
    — Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 22 June 2021
Definition of climacteric
Adjective
  • Argyle entered a district game against Colleyville Heritage without a crucial starter.
    — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Built over 22 years The green light follows a crucial safety assessment issued on 4 August 2026 by Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK).
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • What enters a watershed upstream can affect communities, ecosystems, wildlife and cultural resources downstream — including resources within our ancestral homelands.
    — Dana Adkins, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The watershed council commissioned a study, published in 2017 by Grand Valley State University, to evaluate the economic impact of the Huron River.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of watershed

Browse Nearby Words

climacterics
climactic
climate
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Cite this Entry

“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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