climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

klə-

: of, relating to, or constituting a climax

the film's climactic scene

climactically

klī-ˈmak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

klə-

adverb

Synonyms

• apocalyptic
• apocalyptical
• highest
• pivotal
• critical
• climacteric
• decisive
• culminating
• crucial
• watershed

Examples of climactic in a Sentence

At the climactic moment, the main character of the novel finds herself face to face with the thief.

the movie's climactic chase scene

Recent Examples on the Web

Lowery remembered about shooting a climactic scene. —Zack Sharf, Variety, 7 July 2025

Trump said the climactic celebrations, on July 4th, 2026, will include a festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. —Jackie Northam, NPR, 4 July 2025

Reckoning include its principal villain, Gabriel, whom Ethan defeats for good after a lengthy and climactic aerial chase sequence that involves Ethan jumping from one biplane to another while the rest of his team puts the pieces together to defeat the Entity. —Tommy McArdle, People.com, 23 May 2025

Stop One: Phuket Stay Here: Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas set the stage for some of this season’s most climactic scenes. —Ashlee Marie Preston, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for climactic

• didactic
• galactic
• syntactic
• anaphylactic
• extragalactic
• intergalactic
• stereotactic
• chemotactic
• chiropractic
• isotactic
• prophylactic
• lactic

Kids Definition

climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

klə-

: of, relating to, or being a climax

the movie's climactic scene

Medical Definition

climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

: of, relating to, or constituting a climax