1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

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

Relevance

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 The main theme was used only twice — once for the first- episode gag and a second time in a climactic closing moment in episode four. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 20 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 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 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
  • Seehorn won lead actress in a drama series for her portrayal of the lonesome Carol Sturka in Apple TV’s post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama from Vince Gilligan.
    — Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Even if the movie gets a bit crazy in an apocalyptic epilogue, its picture of bourgeois smugness due for a takedown is delicious.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Adjective
  • While the 23-year-old Thompson is a pivotal player for the Rockets, he was not selected to either an All-Star or All-NBA team last season.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • At a pivotal moment in the film, Ledger’s Joker positions a pencil on a table, and later slams a man’s head into it.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • That makes the vehicle’s capacitors, batteries, and power electronics critical.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Ukraine is ready to halt its strikes on Russian territory if allies can secure a genuine Russian commitment not to hit Ukraine's critical infrastructure.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • In hindsight, making a decisive call at 2-2, in the 55th minute, five minutes before 3-2, would have been prudent.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The factory should focus on customers for whom its automation creates a decisive advantage.
    — Dhanush Bakthavatchalam, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 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
  • Most crucial to Barcelona’s long-term outlook is their success in refinancing the huge sums already borrowed to fund the project.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The timing of the Houthis’ escalation, which began with attacks on Saudi interests in July, is especially significant, given that the Red Sea has become a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz for Saudi oil during the Iran war.
    — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • These will show whether the vote was a watershed moment in the demise of an anti-fascist consensus dating back to World War II, or the latest in a series of elections worldwide in which frustrated voters simply cast out incumbents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Regulators and online safety advocates called it a watershed moment, and both Meta and state attorneys general called on TikTok and YouTube to make similar changes.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of watershed

Browse Nearby Words

climacterics
climactic
climate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of facsimile

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All