as in apocalyptic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point
the French Revolution is usually regarded as one of the climactic events in modern European history
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Recent Examples of climactic
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
Art the Clown is set to return in this fourth, and potentially final, installment of the ultra-gory slasher franchise, which promises to be a climactic showdown with major revelations about the series’ mythology.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
That would not be the case in the film’s final 15 minutes, as Panahi makes a dramatic shift in the climactic scene and the shift to the now-conscious Eghbal character.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
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
Art the Clown is set to return in this fourth, and potentially final, installment of the ultra-gory slasher franchise, which promises to be a climactic showdown with major revelations about the series’ mythology.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025
That would not be the case in the film’s final 15 minutes, as Panahi makes a dramatic shift in the climactic scene and the shift to the now-conscious Eghbal character.
—Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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O’Neill, who holds an economics degree and spent 20 years as an actor, said her work aims to counter post-apocalyptic narratives with stories about potential positive futures.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Jan. 2026
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But judging from the overflowing shopping carts, many seem to be preparing for something more apocalyptic.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The music of the first three seasons — including covers of Miley Cyrus and Rihanna songs — helped set the backdrop of pivotal scenes, and of course, many, many balls.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
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The Lion's Den at The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, has also hosted many historical figures during a very pivotal time in American history.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Hillis Schild, executive director of the fund, said such projects meet critical community needs, but often struggle to secure traditional bank financing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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Nick Geller, managing director of Steadfast LA, highlighted the organization’s emphasis on protecting critical community infrastructure.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The decisive opportunity—and the most formidable challenge—resides within the Gordian knot of healthcare operations.—
Sahar Hashmi,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Critics label her authoritarian, while trustees praise her decisive leadership.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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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
Adjective
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Mikel Arteta and his players are facing criticism for not imposing themselves on opposition teams forcefully enough, allowing valuable points to slip through their fingers at such a crucial point of the season.—
Graham Ruthven,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Liberal and conservative polls show the president’s support is cratering across all groups because of ICE’s excesses but especially with independents and Latinos, two constituencies crucial to his 2024 triumph and the future of MAGA.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That film, now recognized as a watershed moment, helped revolutionize the independent film business.—
Rena Ronson,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
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NikeSkims, the watershed partnership between sportswear giant Nike and Kim Kardashian‘s label-of-the-moment Skims, has just made a splash in the world of footwear.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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