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
  • The filmmaker made his fiction debut in 2024 with The End, a post-apocalyptic musical thriller starring Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, and George MacKay.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In the new apocalyptic Swedish comedy The Storm, Filip invites his closest friends to his new mountain estate for his 45th birthday celebration.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Adjective
  • Its produce is pivotal in curbing supply-side inflation domestically, and the country ranks among the top global exporters of rice and sugar.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • There’s the recurring omission of pivotal moments — in the last two weeks alone, Mae’s death happens offscreen, as does everyone finding out about it — which is less vexing with tough scenes than joyous ones.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • The critical need for a crisis communications plan, regardless of the size of your business.
    — Janelle Ash , Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • If a critical variable exceeds an allowable limit, the safety function overrides the control system regardless of why the controller made its decision.
    — Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • Lukas Dostal made 12 saves, stopping just six of 11 shots in the decisive middle period before being replaced to start the third.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Public confidence will play a decisive role in the growth of fusion power.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 7 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
  • But anyone who’s yet to see the earlier series need not fret; while Seven Havens makes reference especially to Korra, any crucial details are reestablished within a narrative that’s set nearly two centuries later and stands largely on its own.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026
  • While Saudi Arabia has considerable military capabilities, experience in Yemen, and powerful allies like Pakistan and Türkiye, active US backing remains crucial, both strategically and politically.
    — Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • The paper, which has since been cited more than 250,000 times, was a watershed moment in AI.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Qatar’s Doha Film Festival will premiere four Qatari features and one original series at its upcoming edition in November in a watershed moment for the local film and TV industry.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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