climacteric 1 of 2

adjective

klī-ˈmak-t(ə-)rik How to pronounce climacteric (audio)
Definition of climactericnext
as in climactic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point as the war reached its climacteric phase, the atrocities dramatically increased, both in number and brutality

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

climacteric

2 of 2

noun

as in climax
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs historians attempting to pinpoint the Roman Empire's climacteric, that precise moment when it began its long downhill slide

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 climacteric
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 Macerating unripe climacteric fruit in sugar, however, isn’t a substitute for ripening them; that just takes time in your kitchen counter’s fruit basket. — Bill St. John, The Denver Post, 8 May 2017
Noun
These are called climacteric, and will respond to the presence of ethylene by producing more ethylene. — Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climacteric
  1. climactic
  2. climax
  3. apocalyptic
  4. milestone
  5. critical
  6. watershed
  7. pivotal
  8. landmark
Adjective
  • Their climactic scenes near the end, once all the obstacles have been removed, are lovely — and not just because Austen’s prose in their outcome is so indestructible.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
  • In its concluding episodes, the HBO juggernaut thrust an unearned heel turn on its female lead, rendered its climactic battle so dark viewers couldn’t see it, and ended over 70 hours of buildup with a rando on the Iron Throne.
    — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of climactic
Noun
  • Jo and Raissa play this conflict out on screen in a story that balances action and adventure with an emotional climax that left me in tears.
    — Parents, Parents, 25 Sep. 2026
  • The climax of the book is the fight over who would run the private company.
    — Lane Brown, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of climax
Adjective
  • Molly Kinder saw the apocalyptic warnings about artificial intelligence while walking home from dropping her children off at elementary school.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The one bit of apocalyptic grimness that does come through is the color scheme.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Noun
  • As part of the pact, Sanofi is paying Regeneron $1 billion upfront, with possible milestone payments of up to $7 billion more.
    — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Fusion reaction milestone Most fusion projects, including the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, focus on D-T fusion because it can be achieved under less demanding conditions than alternative fuel cycles.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of milestone
Adjective
  • But expanding domestic and allied capacity to manufacture the most critical medicines and ingredients — and maintain adequate strategic reserves — would dramatically reduce China’s leverage in any future crisis.
    — Patrick McHenry, STAT, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Hospital Association reports critical shortages of health care workers across the state.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of critical
Noun
  • The canal relies on freshwater from its watershed and Gatún Lake to operate its locks.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Examples cited of this progress involved multiple jurisdictions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which includes New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Delaware and West Virginia.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of watershed
Adjective
  • California will play a pivotal role in determining the control of Congress.
    — Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • This engineering hurdle explains why the Fujikura contract is so pivotal.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Noun
  • As of late September, a few of the problems from the new list have been solved, including some landmark ones.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Supreme Court justices will hear arguments next week in a landmark case that could determine whether states can sue oil and gas companies for climate change.
    — Callie Patteson, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of landmark

Browse Nearby Words

cliffs
climacteric
climacterics
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Cite this Entry

“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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