Synonym Chooser

How does the noun apex differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of apex are acme, climax, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When might acme be a better fit than apex?

While the synonyms acme and apex are close in meaning, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would climax be a reasonable alternative to apex?

In some situations, the words climax and apex are roughly equivalent. However, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When could culmination be used to replace apex?

The meanings of culmination and apex largely overlap; however, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When is peak a more appropriate choice than apex?

The words peak and apex can be used in similar contexts, but peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

In what contexts can pinnacle take the place of apex?

The synonyms pinnacle and apex are sometimes interchangeable, but pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When would summit be a good substitute for apex?

The words summit and apex are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

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 apex Following the unexpected visit, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has placed a large bear trap in the Lemis’ front yard, hoping to lure the apex predator in with donuts for a safe removal, per NBC Connecticut. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025 This time of year, these apex predators are packing on the pounds by feasting on calorie-rich sockeye salmon at Brooks Falls. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 25 Sep. 2025 Mendoza, who’s overseen a club playing 35-52 ball since its June apex, has to be on very thin ice. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 24 Sep. 2025 The rapper’s willingness to provoke, which often came bundled in a conversation about mental health, catapulted him to the top of pop culture and later, knocked him off the apex. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apex
Noun
  • It was hailed as the pinnacle of innovation at Vitpepper’s MIPCOM session, and yet, buzz surrounding the trailer was minimal.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
  • The village of Caprarola is where the pinnacle of Italian grandeur meets small-town charm—a place to slow down and soak in centuries of beauty.
    Fulvio De Bonis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Sign up to The Selection newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.
    Christian Orozco, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Visitors can meet firefighters/paramedics and see live demonstrations, fire engines and equipment and pick up safety and wildfire prevention tips.
    Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The zenith of the PTC’s advocacy came in the aftermath of the infamous 2004 Janet Jackson Super Bowl Halftime Show on CBS, which was airing live when the singer’s bare breast was exposed on camera during the performance alongside Justin Timberlake.
    Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
  • When the pair is closest to Mars, at maximum, Earth and the moon will be just under half a degree apart in the sky (astronomers measure size on the sky in degrees, where there are 90 degrees from the horizon to the zenith).
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • At the very end, his mother made a brief appearance to wrap up the routine.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • None of this means the era of massive, trillion-parameter models is coming to an end.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • If squirrels are a concern, attach wire mesh over top of the container.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The Americans started brightly and confidently, getting control in midfield and probing with intent, but chances were rare, with the first real effort somewhat accidental as Zavier Gozo’s cross from the left clipped the top of the bar.
    The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And Laci Kaye Booth and Mae Estes, but I have a feeling all of those girls are right on the cusp.
    Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Oh, 6-0 Georgia Tech’s right on the cusp of the bracket (after beating 2-5 Virginia Tech 35-20)?
    Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • While most of us on the plane were in this same unexpected predicament, a passenger nearby didn't seem to be sharing in our misery thanks to a compact gadget propped up their phone to the perfect viewing height.
    Anita Katee, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025
  • In recent years, though, the popularity of the celebs-on-a-yacht genre has reached new heights.
    Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Gregerson’s shows her at the peak of her signature tercets, weaving together the microscopic and the grand threads of science, art, and history into wonderfully rich sonic landscapes.
    Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The band members credit their love for music for saving them from connecting with the wrong crowd in the '90s, when gang violence was at its peak on the city's east side, which was a popular destination for immigrants.
    NPR, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Apex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apex. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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