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
And yet something else resides here—orgasm not as a terminus, as a climactic ending, but as a boundless state, coming in pulses, waves.
—
Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 10 May 2025
The script musters scant interest in Niki’s career ambitions and romantic complications, and her halting conversations with her mother keep chasing a climactic point of mutual understanding that never arrives — a poignant impasse, perhaps, but a difficult one to structure a film around.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
Its iconic, climactic mirror maze shootout has since been echoed in countless films (from Enter the Dragon to the climax of John Wick: Chapter 2); in Us, a seaside carnival’s funhouse of mirrors marks the inciting location of horror and revelation.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025
So the kind of rhythm and the structure of this season was that [episode] 8, and then twice as much [episode] 9, were sort of these big, epic, kind of little mini films with huge climactic explosions.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 10 May 2025
The script musters scant interest in Niki’s career ambitions and romantic complications, and her halting conversations with her mother keep chasing a climactic point of mutual understanding that never arrives — a poignant impasse, perhaps, but a difficult one to structure a film around.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 May 2025
Its iconic, climactic mirror maze shootout has since been echoed in countless films (from Enter the Dragon to the climax of John Wick: Chapter 2); in Us, a seaside carnival’s funhouse of mirrors marks the inciting location of horror and revelation.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025
So the kind of rhythm and the structure of this season was that [episode] 8, and then twice as much [episode] 9, were sort of these big, epic, kind of little mini films with huge climactic explosions.
—EW.com, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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The forecast is apocalyptic, but the disaster is always just over the horizon for the people in power at the moment.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
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As my colleague Wendy Lee wrote recently, the company is working with filmmakers including Sean Douglas and his famous father Michael Keaton to create shorts that aren’t made with AI, but instead portray the technology in a less apocalyptic light than Hollywood is used to.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Competing for the pivotal center position are Carter Miller and Cameron Kinnie, both vying to distinguish themselves and seize this critical spot in the lineup.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 May 2025
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His trades for Gobert and Randle/DiVincenzo were widely criticized at the outset but validated over time as the players got acclimated to Minnesota and played pivotal roles in the franchise’s rise to consistent contender status.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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If successful, this repatriation could supercharge domestic innovation while depriving Western labs of critical expertise.—
Moin Roberts-Islam,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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Beijing is the primary trading partner for many, but is also feared as a regional bully, in part due to its increasingly aggressive claims on natural resources such as critical fisheries.—
Tara Copp,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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In the decisive third set, Sabalenka double-faulted to give Gauff a break for 2-1. Gauff led 3-1 and had break points for 4-1 but Sabalenka held and then broke for 3-all.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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In the seventh, San Francisco landed its decisive blow.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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Crucially, the flagship brand Moncler saw sales rise only 2% and its crucial Europe, Middle East, and Africa region fell by 1%.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
3 June 2025
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The invisible legacy In the end, Sara is left with one last crucial gift from her mentor, Massimiliano—a CD with an enigmatic message.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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