CLIMACTERIC Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

climacteric 1 of 2

adjective

klī-ˈmak-t(ə-)rik

Definition of climacteric

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

climacteric

2 of 2

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of climacteric

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

Don’t miss Raja, a heart-pumping tube slide with a 37-foot drop as its climactic finish.

— Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026
Part 1 is expected to culminate with the abduction itself, leaving the rescue campaign and the climactic battle for Part 2.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 30 July 2026

Definition of climactic

Noun

Moving the climax from the open waters of the Cape Fear River to the family's backyard pool marks a decisive break from previous film adaptations.

— JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
Perversely for a film with a two-hour-and-25-minute running time, the climax still feels rushed.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of climax

Adjective

The migrants were never going to be able to reach the mainland EU, but that fact was irrelevant to hard-right, anti-migrant politicians around the world who portrayed the incident in apocalyptic terms.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
The book’s post-apocalyptic setting ennobles its meditations on selfhood and finitude; the narrator’s search for perpetuity is lent an unshakable gravity by her circumstances.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of apocalyptic

Noun

Developers say the bridge's removal marks a major milestone for the Portsmouth Square Improvement Project, adding 20,000 square feet of usable park space.

— Maddie White, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Butterfly Bash was introduced as the signature celebration of the milestone year.

— Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of milestone

Adjective

With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, du Plessis views this as a critical, yet temporary, opportunity to transform cricket into a mainstream American sport, stressing that success demands proactive vision.

— Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
As in the maritime domain, AI governance is becoming the new frontier of a Cold War-style contest between China and the US, which both sides see as critical to their national security and prosperity.

— Andy Browne, semafor.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of critical

Noun

In 2010, a resolution by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board set maximum bacteria levels allowed in the watershed.

— Mack Baysinger Follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Examples include the restoration of johads (traditional water-harvesting structures) in Rajasthan, watershed-management projects in Hiware Bazar village in Maharashtra, and conservation activities in the Chilika Lake ecosystem of Odisha.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026

Definition of watershed

Adjective

The Emerging Native Arts Grant is awarded twice a year and provides direct funding, mentorship, and visibility to Native and Indigenous artists at a pivotal stage in their careers.

— News Desk, Artforum, 31 July 2026
Trump’s endorsement proved pivotal for Masterson, securing his status as the presumptive front-runner in the primary race.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026

Definition of pivotal

Noun

July brought a wave of restaurant news to the Fort Worth area, from the reopening of a beloved 80-year-old Denton County landmark to the closure of eight local eateries.

— Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026
Ten years on, the Philippines' landmark victory against China in the South China Sea Arbitration remains a critical international legal precedent.

— Jill Goldenziel, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of landmark

Browse Nearby Words

cliffs

climacteric

climacterics

See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

Style

“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of climacteric

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes