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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of climacteric
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
Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
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
Adjective
-
The climactic fireworks, to which the script has been building for almost all of the 76-minute running time, arrive too late, with too little differentiation from the rest of the visuals.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
One unusual choice presents a climactic murder only in a photo seen decades later, along with articles defaming the victim.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
After a series of holds, the match hit its climax in the 10th and 11th games of the set.—
José Sánchez Córdova,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
More importantly, this final job will collectively involve all of the main characters together and lead to a climax that helps tie every loose end together, reward the just and bring the unjust to justice.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Dow reaching 50,000 is an amazing milestone, Silverblatt said.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Its milestone Berlin 2026 contingent — comprising three feature film premieres, two of which are competing for the Golden Bear — kicks off the campaign.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
How a single article is sending shock waves with an apocalyptic warning.—
,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Such ideas appear to have fueled some of the more apocalyptic currents on the Trumpist right, such as Peter Thiel’s musings on the anti-Christ and the ravings of Dan Bongino, the former deputy director of the FBI, who has said that demons are real.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The area's drinking water hasn't been contaminated, but scientists and environmental advocates say the damage could still be severe in a watershed that stretches to the Chesapeake Bay.—
Michael Copley,
NPR,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Davidson, whose tics include swearing, is expected to attend the ceremony, meaning any winner’s speech would be observed closely by producers if it were broadcast before the 9PM watershed.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
After decades of maintaining his innocence, Vedam’s conviction was thrown out by a judge in August after it was revealed that prosecutors had withheld potentially critical ballistics evidence during his two trials.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
His final film earned universal critical acclaim, and was recognized as the best nonfiction film of 2023 by the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn.—
Kevin Crust,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort Despite the constraints of the property’s 1960 construction and historic landmark status, the units have been modernized with on-demand hot water heaters and efficient mini-split heating and air-conditioning units to reduce fossil fuel use.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Mark Zuckerberg said Instagram isn’t designed to addict young users while on the stand in a landmark trial on the harms of social media.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That matched the consensus forecast but kept the pivotal inflation measure well above the Fed’s 2% target.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
20 Feb. 2026
-
After Clark stepped down on Tuesday because an internal investigation unearthed an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, the union announced on Wednesday that Meyer will take over on an interim basis entering a pivotal year for the future of the sport.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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