climactic

adjective

klī-ˈmak-tik How to pronounce climactic (audio)
Definition of climacticnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 climactic One especially colorful backdrop punctuates a climactic scene in which Einbinder and Anderson walk hand-in-hand, covered in blood. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 18 Aug. 2026 Every other entry either dwells in its characters’ filth throughout or reveals a new level of depravity as the climactic joke. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026 Her tearful, climactic phone call with Heath Ledger's character is absolutely devastating. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 This is the climactic phase of the eclipse, when the moon acts like a natural coronagraph to block the brilliance of the sun's disk, ushering in a false night in which our star's outer atmosphere can be seen leaping out from the lunar silhouette. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
  1. apocalyptic
  2. pivotal
  3. critical
  4. decisive
  5. climacteric
  6. crucial
  7. watershed
Adjective
  • That apocalyptic day has been imprinted on your memory since boyhood.
    — Ken Frydman, New York Daily News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • America’s sense of security was smashed with apocalyptic fury Tuesday when the most destructive and meticulously planned terror attack in history shattered two of the country’s most potent symbols.
    — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of apocalyptic
Adjective
  • While the 23-year-old Thompson is a pivotal player for the Rockets, he was not selected to either an All-Star or All-NBA team last season.
    — Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • At a pivotal moment in the film, Ledger’s Joker positions a pencil on a table, and later slams a man’s head into it.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of pivotal
Adjective
  • And although there were some critical mistakes from Florida transfer quarterback DJ Lagway, the new Baylor QB made big-time throws, showed grit while playing through injury and had the Bears in position to win in the final moments.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • GlobalFoundries and Monarch Quantum will give the company domestic manufacturing partners for two critical parts of its systems.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of critical
Adjective
  • In hindsight, making a decisive call at 2-2, in the 55th minute, five minutes before 3-2, would have been prudent.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The factory should focus on customers for whom its automation creates a decisive advantage.
    — Dhanush Bakthavatchalam, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of decisive
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
Definition of climacteric
Adjective
  • Most crucial to Barcelona’s long-term outlook is their success in refinancing the huge sums already borrowed to fund the project.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The timing of the Houthis’ escalation, which began with attacks on Saudi interests in July, is especially significant, given that the Red Sea has become a crucial alternative to the Strait of Hormuz for Saudi oil during the Iran war.
    — April Longley Alley, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of crucial
Adjective
  • These will show whether the vote was a watershed moment in the demise of an anti-fascist consensus dating back to World War II, or the latest in a series of elections worldwide in which frustrated voters simply cast out incumbents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Regulators and online safety advocates called it a watershed moment, and both Meta and state attorneys general called on TikTok and YouTube to make similar changes.
    — Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of watershed

Browse Nearby Words

climacterics
climactic
climate
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Cite this Entry

“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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