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
-
At the climactic sally, six aerial bombs were dropped; none scored a direct hit, but their detonations damaged the hull so severely that the ship sank in 21 minutes.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
-
That lack of forward momentum is exactly what has made Stranger Things’s final season so far feel strangely anti-climactic.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
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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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Most recently, Damon added another major milestone by winning the 2025 USA Boxing National Championships and earning a spot on Team USA's national youth roster.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The testing milestone marks a key step toward launching the robotaxi service in the San Francisco Bay Area later in 2026.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Children as young as 14 are some of the last victims to be identified following the apocalyptic fire that broke out at a bar in Switzerland on New Year's that killed 40 people, authorities said.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
-
The damage is done, and the damage appears to be darn-near apocalyptic.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Until 2000, virtually all the soybeans the country exported had to come from the west and northwest on straight trucks, coming uphill as much as 2,500 feet over 500 miles before dropping the 3,000 feet in 45 miles to its port of Paranagua on the other side of the watershed.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The unplanned stop marks a watershed in their collective journey.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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This trend accelerated in December as the flag state emerged as a critical shield against drone strikes and vessel seizures.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The musical movies have received critical acclaim, and the second film earned five total nominations at this year's Globes — one more than the 2025 Golden Globes.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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 10 Jan. 2026.
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