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
There's no painful climactic point, just a huge empty space.
—
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Green’s list of eerie parallels included two swimming-pool metaphors and a climactic injury in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Following the climactic portrayal of bombings in Iran and Gaza, the Strokes’ video montage ended with a shot of a bomber plane in the air, as the song abruptly ended.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
There’s one climactic moment involving spitting when the staging undermines the action.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Green’s list of eerie parallels included two swimming-pool metaphors and a climactic injury in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and two strikes.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Following the climactic portrayal of bombings in Iran and Gaza, the Strokes’ video montage ended with a shot of a bomber plane in the air, as the song abruptly ended.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 19 Apr. 2026
There’s one climactic moment involving spitting when the staging undermines the action.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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This time out, however, the apocalyptic story line has an echo in the real world.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
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Jasper then went on to re-team with Searchlight for post-apocalyptic musical drama O’dessa, starring Sadie Sink, which was released on Hulu in 2025.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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But what makes this offseason a pivotal moment for them is the additional tax rate known as the repeater tax — a more severe financial penalty based on five-year windows, incentivizing owners not to spend excessively over the salary cap for prolonged periods.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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Furthermore, Sharpe spent six months learning how to tinkle the ivories, an impressive commitment which pays off during the pivotal piano battles and ensures a welcome absence of clumsy cutaways from fingers to face.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Morton was critical in helping the Broncos reach their first-ever playoff appearance, ultimately getting them to Super Bowl XII during the 1977 campaign.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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When the war started, governments scrambled to adapt to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for energy flowing to Asia.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
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What initially looked like a decisive campaign by the US and Israel has evolved into a stagnant and prolonged conflict, with the threat of further escalation hanging over the region.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
14 May 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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That assessment didn’t mention Taiwan directly, but, in relation to Iran, said both sides had agreed that the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for oil and natural gas, must remain open.—
Will Weissert,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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The subpoenas were crucial in getting the names of children and their families so the Justice Department could interview them.—
Kimberlee Kruesi,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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The move turned out to be a watershed moment for Mansoori, who caught the bug.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 2026
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Maher cited Walmart’s recent updates to its policies regarding Sparky, its own AI shopping agent, as a watershed moment for the industry.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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