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 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 Every other entry either dwells in its characters’ filth throughout or reveals a new level of depravity as the climactic joke. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026 Her tearful, climactic phone call with Heath Ledger's character is absolutely devastating. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 This is the climactic phase of the eclipse, when the moon acts like a natural coronagraph to block the brilliance of the sun's disk, ushering in a false night in which our star's outer atmosphere can be seen leaping out from the lunar silhouette. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 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
  • Indeed, the private markets (and especially PE) are quite adept at kicking the can down the road, so this all may never reach an apocalyptic fever pitch.
    — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The 2015 action film, set in a post-apocalyptic desert wasteland, stars Theron as warrior Imperator Furiosa, who leads the daring escape of female prisoners from a tyrannical ruler.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Adjective
  • Iceland’s freezing temperatures typically last about five months of the year, but the government has chosen a balmy summer day for its pivotal national referendum.
    — Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But Bama followed with a 38-3 quarterfinal flop to Indiana, erasing any momentum and placing DeBoer squarely under the microscope entering a pivotal third season.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • The critical consensus on the Croisette was similarly effusive.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Restrictions on energy, electricity or critical minerals, something Ford also floated, could instead raise costs for American companies and consumers by making key inputs more expensive or harder to obtain.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • Alphabet’s stock is down more than 15% from its May peak, wiping out roughly $700 billion in value, as concerns rise over its mounting AI bills and failure to produce a decisive technological breakthrough.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026
  • There were shorter absences for core, ankle and adductor issues over the year, but a hamstring problem, which wiped out December and January, was the decisive blow.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Aug. 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
  • Many market participants believe these results will serve as a crucial bellwether to test whether the AI rally can sustain its momentum.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Brown’s ability to hammer Husted on this issue is alarming Republican operatives, who see a Husted victory as crucial to holding a majority in the Senate.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • For a deeper look at the landscape, the Dewey Short Visitor Center pairs lake and dam views with engaging exhibits on the watershed and local habitats.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • This is a watershed moment for generative AI and large language models (LLMs).
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 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 Aug. 2026.

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