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 What the Sinaloa Cartel offered at its apex was certainty and protection. Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025 In April, tension reached an apex across the country between Tennessee and its quarterback. Sam Khan Jr, New York Times, 25 July 2025 The key feature is duplicated in its traveling counterpart, as the exhibit rises above visitors in walking toward the apex. Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2025 Elegant finishes in the home include intricate glass chandeliers, marble countertops, exposed wooden beams at the apex of vaulted ceilings and stone fireplaces. Molly Davis, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for apex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apex
Noun
  • Not all of us will reach the pinnacle of being the biggest or the best or the most expensive.
    Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Not even Netflix could write a storybook ending Throughout the 2023 season, Netflix followed Jones and the Cowboys with the expectation that the Mike McCarthy-led 12-5 squad would finally reach the same pinnacle that the teams of the 1990s did.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Experts recommend key tips to ensure no one gets left behind in a hot vehicle this summer.
    Jenna Prestininzi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
  • Here are tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm: To lower the risk of lightning strikes, when going outdoors, develop a plan to reach a safer spot.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The American Colonization Society (ACS), founded in 1819, reached its zenith of support by the 1850s.
    Time, Time, 14 July 2025
  • Already the pinnacle of luxury hospitality in Portofino, the Splendido has reopened after a multiyear renovation and upgrade — and there’s also an adjunct, five-suite villa that takes the grandeur of this upscale holiday playground to a new zenith.
    Miles Socha, Footwear News, 28 June 2025
Noun
  • Musk has stressed that rapid and frequent testing, which sometimes leads to explosive ends, can still provide data that helps engineers improve the vehicle's design.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
  • This is the end of our journey on 'Love Island' but the beginning of our fairytale.
    Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Our top picks for children's life insurance include Aflac, one of the few companies with term life policies for children, and Foresters Financial, which has a Bright Future Children's policy that pays out up to $75,000.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
  • The DreamCloud Premier King has a super cozy cashmere top and seven decadent layers of adaptive support.
    Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Suppose Beijing established a lead over American AI labs and reached the cusp of recursively-improving superintelligence before us.
    Dan Hendrycks, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
  • Danielle Scott, a legally blind Afro-Cuban, Polish-Jewish, and Asian mixed-media artist at the cusp of international fame, risks her own well-being by exposing herself to the intergenerational trauma of the Atlantic Slave Trade.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 7 May 2025
Noun
  • Consider height as well as flower color when pairing bulbs.
    Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
  • Along the Outer Banks, wave heights between 6 to 9 feet are possible.
    Daniel Peck, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • In late August, vegetable gardens have reached their peak, and that’s when our Michigan tomatoes have the best flavor.
    Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, hill peaks, or ridge tops.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Apex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apex. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

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