1
as in milestones
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
Relevance
2
as in culminations
the highest part or point
the climax of her career as a performer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in culminates
to bring to a triumphant conclusion
organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of climaxes
Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The band has never sounded this melodic before; Wroth in particular brings a constant dynamism to his guitar solos, often layering two and reaching climaxes that refuse to collapse into just a flurry of notes, building off Phantom Slaughter’s keyboard melodies with a real sense of drama.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
There was plenty of raw energy in climaxes, sometimes too much for so supportive and reinforcing an acoustic as the Meyerson Symphony Center’s.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Joaquin Temes As Argentina's midterm electoral campaign reaches its second and third climaxes, the number of scandalous corruption accusations aimed at the highest echelons of national politics is surging.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s a reason the picture has that title, in other words, and that idea finds a more direct correlation in the finale, which gives us one of the more grotesquely funny climaxes in recent horror.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
Anderson is here for the melodrama, the special lessons and the climaxes that fall flat.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The band has never sounded this melodic before; Wroth in particular brings a constant dynamism to his guitar solos, often layering two and reaching climaxes that refuse to collapse into just a flurry of notes, building off Phantom Slaughter’s keyboard melodies with a real sense of drama.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
There was plenty of raw energy in climaxes, sometimes too much for so supportive and reinforcing an acoustic as the Meyerson Symphony Center’s.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Joaquin Temes As Argentina's midterm electoral campaign reaches its second and third climaxes, the number of scandalous corruption accusations aimed at the highest echelons of national politics is surging.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s a reason the picture has that title, in other words, and that idea finds a more direct correlation in the finale, which gives us one of the more grotesquely funny climaxes in recent horror.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
The film climaxes with a triumphant visit by the musicians, some in their 90s, to New York’s Carnegie Hall.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climaxes
Noun
-
There were a couple milestones.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The Pitt is still reaching new milestones as its second season comes to an end.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Full moons are culminations — don’t forget to pause and see what’s already come full circle before rushing into more.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The program culminates in an awards gala in New York City on December 1st.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The season culminates with the Maryland Hunt Cup in Glyndon on Saturday, April 25.—
Sean Clancy,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Improvements began after policymakers recognized the mountains as vital watersheds for neighboring communities.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Each year, Heal the Bay collects trash from beaches and watersheds across Los Angeles County with the help of thousands of volunteers.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Sea turtles snoozed, manta rays glided, and reef fish darted by the thousands over lava pinnacles covered in corals and basket sponges.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In that heartbreaking scene, Hal (Cranston) finishes setting up the elaborate domino run, only to set it off when leaving the room to pick up a video camera.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Samantha Santana finishes a shot from 15 yards out on a pass from Dylan Watson as the Texans take advantage of a counterattack to extend their lead.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The city of Galway, on the west side of Ireland, is widely known for its medieval streets, colorful shopfronts and historical landmarks.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Full-height windows frame views of New York landmarks, including the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, while coffered ceilings soar above the open-plan living and dining areas.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These tools extend to various heights and include a microfiber cloth that wraps around each fan blade to remove dust.—
Emily Benda Gaylord,
The Spruce,
16 Apr. 2026
-
As military expansion took precedence under Aurangzeb and the Mughal empire’s finances came increasingly under strain, architectural output would never again reach the same heights in scale or quality.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Climaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climaxes. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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