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
Season 2, however, faced some criticism for its lack of climactic setpieces, potentially due to an episode order shortened from 10 to just eight.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
15 June 2026
The intensity increased stepwise until, with nine Valkyries singing at full force, Dudamel unleashed a climactic storm of sound.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Multiple fighters have followed that pattern as the White House UFC event nears its climactic bout.
—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
And in his own way, King took Rose higher, providing the score for every climactic moment of the 2011 MVP’s Bulls career.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Alison Herman,
Variety,
15 June 2026
The intensity increased stepwise until, with nine Valkyries singing at full force, Dudamel unleashed a climactic storm of sound.
—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Multiple fighters have followed that pattern as the White House UFC event nears its climactic bout.
—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
And in his own way, King took Rose higher, providing the score for every climactic moment of the 2011 MVP’s Bulls career.
—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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As Silicon Valley debates whether AI will replace millions of office workers, one of the executives building the technology’s underlying infrastructure says Gen Z shouldn’t buy into the apocalyptic job displacement predictions.
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Chris is a freelance journalist who, when not writing, skywatching, playing games or building Lego, indulges his taste for horror, sci-fi and the post-apocalyptic.
Adjective
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The pivotal match itself — the semifinal encounter against hosts Uruguay — is also more convincingly depicted and dramatic, particularly for how one of the goals is assisted by an interfering policeman (incredibly, this did actually happen).
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The pivotal Civil War battle would last for three bloody days.
Adjective
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Everyday businesses most at risk To counter the threat, businesses and leaders should invest in cyber defenses, upgrade old systems or patch faulty software, and limit who has access to critical systems, the Five Eyes leaders said.
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Commercial vessels and oil tankers preparing to transit through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical strategic waterways for global trade flows, maintain their wait in the Gulf of Oman, on June 17, 2026.
Adjective
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The holiday marked the 205th anniversary of the 1821 Battle of Carabobo, which brought Venezuela a decisive victory over Spanish royalist forces.
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The Russian president also anticipated a quick, decisive victory.
Adjective
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Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.
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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.
Adjective
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The winner of tonight's crucial Australia-Paraguay match will move on to the round of 32.
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Meanwhile, the country’s crucial oil industry needs billions of dollars of investment to get anywhere close to the halcyon days of the late 1990s when production was at its height.
Adjective
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While Juneteenth became a federal holiday just five years ago, Bay Area communities have been celebrating the watershed event for over 80 years.
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The watershed district has spent 20 years improving water quality and resilience through stormwater management, shoreline restoration and control of invasive aquatic plants.
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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