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 of climactic

• apocalyptic
• pivotal
• critical
• highest
• decisive
• climacteric
• 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

The colors pop all the brighter, and the moments when Kiki flies overhead are extra dazzling; the climactic blimp sequence particularly benefits from the extra scale. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026

Saving the best for last certainly applies to the whirlwind of fashion month, with Paris Fashion Week bringing a climactic end to the four-week extravaganza. —Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026

Jordan is magnetic in the role and eventually becomes king before T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns from his apparent death for their climactic duel. —Ken Simmons, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026

With climactic changes abreast and habitat loss due to human encroachment, there are few places left in North America where a bear will live out its life and never encounter a human. —Literary Hub, 3 Mar. 2026

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