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
-
The climactic sequence set aboard a military aircraft, with Ben facing off against the Hunters, would have been simpler in a Bruce Willis thriller, and more satisfying.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Ministers in London directed the fortunes of one hundred thousand troops during the conflict’s climactic final stages.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But for the two-hour show’s climax, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo veered deliciously off-topic to cover a medley of songs first made famous 62 years ago by Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Some areas, like a beach that plays a major role in the climax, are based on real places and drew from the plants and fish that are there in real life.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Hours after Dundee’s Professor Iris Grunwald performed the world’s first remote thrombectomy on a human cadaver, another milestone followed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The pay package for Musk, already the world's richest person, consists of 12 tranches of shares to be granted if Tesla hits certain milestones over the next decade.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the next 30 years or so, the changes to American life might be short of apocalyptic.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Seehorn plays Carol Sturka, a misanthropic romance author whose latest book tour concludes with an apocalyptic event that fully transforms her world and the world at large in the span of one evening.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Before the watershed, only mild expletives are usually allowed, and live shows are expected to have safeguards like broadcast delays to catch any mistakes.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The species was once found south of the border in the Rio Sonoyta, but since groundwater pumping has depleted the river, there has been no observable population in the watershed.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The shutdown has disrupted federal operations, delayed pay for hundreds of thousands of workers, and put critical programs at risk.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Some fans were critical of Chiefs general manager Brett Veach when the team failed to make a deal last week ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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One of South Nashville’s longstanding cultural landmarks is poised for a sale in the coming weeks.—
Hadley Hitson,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
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The band announced the upcoming release of a huge box set celebrating the 50th anniversary of their landmark Alive!—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Then, on the pivotal play of the game, Becht ran untouched for nine yards on a great play call by coach Matt Campbell to ice the game.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
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Tiger Woods' son, Charlie Woods, has capped off a pivotal year in his junior golf career by earning a spot on the prestigious 2025 Rolex Junior All-America First Team, a recognition awarded by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to the top junior golfers in the world.—
Julio Cesar Valdera Morales,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 30 Nov. 2025.
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