Synonyms of climax

climax 1 of 2

noun

ˈklī-ˌmaks 

1

as in milestone

a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs

the climax of the story occurs when the hero discovers the identity of his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

• milestone
• watershed
• landmark
• corner
• climacteric
• highlight
• crisis
• turning point
• milepost
• transformation
• capper
• clincher
• metamorphosis
• emergency
• break
• transfiguration
• conversion
• turnaround
• crusher
• turnabout
• extremity
• juncture
• topper
• exigency
• flash point
• Dunkirk
• boiling point
• crunch time
• conjuncture
• breaking point
• clutch
• crunch
• zero hour
• crossroad(s)
• head

2

as in culmination

the highest part or point

the climax of her career as a performer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• culmination
• pinnacle
• zenith
• height
• peak
• top
• apex
• crescendo
• summit
• apogee
• crest
• sum
• noon
• crown
• acme
• capstone
• meridian
• highlight
• noontime
• high-water mark
• head
• high noon
• tip-top
• glory
• ne plus ultra
• flower
• prime
• heyday
• roof
• bloom
• flood tide
• ceiling
• blossom
• extremity
• cap
• tip
• extreme
• high
• vertex
• highspot

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bottom
• base
• foot
• nadir
• rock bottom
• minimum
• abyss

climax

2 of 2

verb

as in to finish

to bring to a triumphant conclusion

organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest

Synonyms & Similar Words

• finish
• complete
• crown
• culminate
• conclude
• cap (off)
• round (off or out)
• terminate
• wrap up

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun climax differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of climax are acme, apex, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to climax?

In some situations, the words acme and climax are roughly equivalent. However, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When is apex a more appropriate choice than climax?

Although the words apex and climax have much in common, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When would culmination be a good substitute for climax?

The words culmination and climax can be used in similar contexts, but culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When can peak be used instead of climax?

While the synonyms peak and climax are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

In what contexts can pinnacle take the place of climax?

The meanings of pinnacle and climax largely overlap; however, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When is it sensible to use summit instead of climax?

The synonyms summit and climax are sometimes interchangeable, but summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of climax

Noun

Quaid, who portrayed the imposing Cousin Eddie in the movie, said that Chase had trouble memorizing his dialogue while filming a particularly verbose breakdown scene near the climax of the film. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025

Both roles are bigger than mere cameos, and John, in particular, is key to the film’s climax. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2025

Verb

As Oscar’s imagination brings him close to climax, unwanted memories of that awful day suddenly puncture his thoughts, pushing images of Wilder into the same cemetery where a boy was horribly violated. —David Opie, IndieWire, 17 June 2025

The novel, as Fitzgerald planned it, was supposed to climax with the Mayer and Thalberg characters hiring hit men to murder each other. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 9 June 2025