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
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
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
-
Lowery remembered about shooting a climactic scene.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
7 July 2025
-
Trump said the climactic celebrations, on July 4th, 2026, will include a festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
4 July 2025
Noun
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Is the Michelin star really in the bag, as Episode 3’s snowy climax would suggest?—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
1 July 2025
-
The Capricorn full moon on July 10th brings a climax in your friendship or community life.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The production, directed by Michael Mayer and choreographed by Steven Hoggett, marks this therapy milestone by having backup singers and chorus members emerge from behind Neil’s chair.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
-
The chipmaker closed above that milestone Thursday as CNBC reported that the technology titan met with President Donald Trump.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Also, the depth of the stream varies directly in proportion to recent rainfall in the watershed.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
6 July 2025
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Here are the top headlines: Stream restoration and other improvements are underway in the Mill Creek watershed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, aiming to heal some of the ecological damage the creek has suffered.—
Ray Padilla,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group’s apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
This seemingly apocalyptic scenario wasn’t confined to Antarctica.—
Discover Magazine,
Discover Magazine,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Progress in Brussels: $9 Billion to Save 8 Million Lives On June 25th, the same day a NATO summit was taking place in Hague, the European Commission and the Gates Foundation helped rally world leaders and philanthropists to commit $9 billion at a landmark summit in Brussels.—
Michael Sheldrick,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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In its landmark 2010 decision in the case Citizens United v. FEC, the justices struck down prohibitions on political spending by corporations.—
June 30,
CBS News,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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States loan the money to cities and towns at low interest rates, enabling communities to spread out the cost of critical government services people take for granted, such as replacing leaky street mains, maintaining treatment plants and rehabbing water towers.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
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Several other critical alerts followed, warning of the imminent threat: A flash flood emergency warning was issued for Kerr County at 4:03 a.m., followed by one for Kerrville at 5:34 a.m.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
6 July 2025
Adjective
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This is the first of a six-part series looking at figures who have played a pivotal role in a modern football success story.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
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Jota also notably became the first player in Wolves club history to score back-to-back European hat-tricks and was pivotal in their Europa League run.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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