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
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Recent Examples of climactic
They’ve been almost monomaniacally determined to deliver a climactic final eight episodes that provide not only a feeling of resolution, but of satisfying inevitability.
—
Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
There’s something particularly climactic about this year’s WNBA Finals, coming weeks before the league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire and with most players becoming free agents in anticipation of a new leaguewide salary structure.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
And as the climactic ending of the novel shows, repression leads to terrible consequences.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But despite the anti-climactic developments of Tuesday, there is still a very real chance that James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end by this time next year, if not before then.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
There’s something particularly climactic about this year’s WNBA Finals, coming weeks before the league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire and with most players becoming free agents in anticipation of a new leaguewide salary structure.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
And as the climactic ending of the novel shows, repression leads to terrible consequences.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But despite the anti-climactic developments of Tuesday, there is still a very real chance that James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end by this time next year, if not before then.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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This may leave countries to do more in terms of adaption to the changing climate whether or not the shift reaches the most apocalyptic forecasts of climate campaigners.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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The name, borrowed from the post-apocalyptic movie series, immediately drew attention for its bold tone.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Here’s a collection of our stories from the Dodgers’ most pivotal moments in 2025.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Midway through November, however, Chicago will face Minnesota again in what should be a pivotal matchup, and safety Jaquan Brisker is already prepared for it.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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As in 2025, the US played a critical role in this first occupation—but in a very different way.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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China has agreed to allow the export of chips critical to auto production, averting widespread shutdowns that had been predicted by the industry.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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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
Adjective
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But a Dodgers win in Game 6 would force a decisive Game 7 and keep Los Angeles' back-to-back championship hopes alive.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Oct. 2025
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In the years since, the battle’s decisive tactics have been closely studied, but archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and the National Trust for Scotland recently discovered an array of physical relics from the deadly conflict.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Like coral reefs, these oyster reefs played crucial ecological roles, providing habitat and nurseries for many other species and filtering vast volumes of water.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
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Bowen, Paqueta and Fullkrug are internationals for their respective countries and their experience in the crucial stages of the season could prove key.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Its release coincided with the 350th anniversary of Christiaan Huygens’ invention of the spiral spring, a watershed moment for watchmaking.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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There’s work to be done, certainly, but this is a watershed moment for anyone paying attention.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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