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
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
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In a climactic face-off, King and the angry young musician kidnapper (A$AP Rocky) finally meet.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
11 Aug. 2025
-
His grieving father character eventually has a climactic confrontation with James, Abrams’ homeless addict character, at the house where all the missing schoolchildren have congregated.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
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There too at the show’s climax was Barkan, pulling her top down all the way this time and giving her torso a vigorous shake.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Aug. 2025
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There are high-speed action and emotional twists and turns in the climax.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Both benchmark gauges hit several record closes this week, with the S & P 500 reaching the milestone on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
16 Aug. 2025
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So the purchase consisted of $443 million for the unowned portion and up to $221 million upon reaching certain regulatory milestones.—
Hang Nguyen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Some of those people, joined by younger tribal members, later initiated the long process of restoring their lifeblood, the Klamath River and its watershed.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
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Ukraine’s fight represents a watershed in modern warfare.—
JON FINER,
Foreign Affairs,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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But for nearly three decades, the show has maintained a consistent posture of apocalyptic cynicism.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
7 Aug. 2025
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In his latest skirmish, with U.S. President Donald Trump, Medvedev boasted about Russia’s apocalyptic nuclear attack system, in a tirade that infuriated the American leader.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In other highlights, the Truth Seekers Summit has also added a conversation with Nyle DiMarco, co-director and producer of ‘Deaf President Now!,’ a documentary detailing the events that led to the landmark passage of the Americans With Disabilities Act.—
William Earl,
Variety,
6 Aug. 2025
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The exec’s comments came after the company made a flurry of ESPN announcements, including a landmark deal with the NFL to swap equity for control of NFL Media assets.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The collapse of the Oxbow Bridge, which linked Cibola in La Paz County to California, poses a serious threat to public health and safety and has cut off a critical access route between the two states, the La Paz County Board of Supervisors said.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
9 Aug. 2025
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The Democratic Party is venturing into uncharted territory on Israel as deepening rifts emerge between longtime Zionist allies and a growing faction of lawmakers openly critical of the war in Gaza.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Indian officials have recently refuted Trump’s claims of the U.S. playing a pivotal role in ending a conflict with Pakistan in May.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
8 Aug. 2025
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The officials said the commando attacks were pivotal in June’s airstrikes, allowing Israel’s air force to carry out wave after wave of bombing runs without losing a single plane.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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