as in completes
to bring to a triumphant conclusion
culminated the school year with a trip to New York
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Recent Examples of culminates
The blend of horror and comedy — two genres driven by tension that culminates in a cathartic payoff — has thrived in recent years at the box office, championed by auteurs like Jordan Peele and Zach Cregger.
—
Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
This lively street—lined with elegant colonial homes and cozy cafes and restaurants—culminates at the iconic Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, known for its nightly video-mapping shows projected in Spanish and in English.
—Regina Zumarraga, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
The film culminates in an exorcism, with the two women in a circle of candles, literally cutting themselves open so that the ghost may exit.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The programming culminates with — what else — a fireworks show following Kahan’s headlining set.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
The play culminates in the first battle of Saint Albans.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Manson’s story culminates with the war in Ukraine, in which Maven has helped mitigate Russia’s advantages; the conflict became an inflection point for comprehensive national adoption.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The Naughty Professor On TV, the problematic romance between 19-year-old Margo and her married 30-something English professor Mark Gable is shorter and lighter than in Thorpe’s book, which culminates in a love confession from teacher to student.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
The tense battle culminates in the Beliskner being destroyed, in turn killing all the Replicators, except for one, which is seen crawling out of the ocean, setting up future battles with this duplicating menace.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Alison Herman, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026
This lively street—lined with elegant colonial homes and cozy cafes and restaurants—culminates at the iconic Ex-Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, known for its nightly video-mapping shows projected in Spanish and in English.
—Regina Zumarraga, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2026
The film culminates in an exorcism, with the two women in a circle of candles, literally cutting themselves open so that the ghost may exit.
—Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
The programming culminates with — what else — a fireworks show following Kahan’s headlining set.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
The play culminates in the first battle of Saint Albans.
—Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026
Manson’s story culminates with the war in Ukraine, in which Maven has helped mitigate Russia’s advantages; the conflict became an inflection point for comprehensive national adoption.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2026
The Naughty Professor On TV, the problematic romance between 19-year-old Margo and her married 30-something English professor Mark Gable is shorter and lighter than in Thorpe’s book, which culminates in a love confession from teacher to student.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 15 Apr. 2026
The tense battle culminates in the Beliskner being destroyed, in turn killing all the Replicators, except for one, which is seen crawling out of the ocean, setting up future battles with this duplicating menace.
—Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culminates
Verb
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The sentencing, handed down by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, completes the final prosecution tied to McKeever's death.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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Miami-Dade Prosecutor Andres Perez argued Wednesday that the report should remain confidential until the State Attorney’s Office completes an investigation into Officer Garcia’s firing of his weapon.—
Brittany Wallman,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Edison finishes the regular season tied with Marina for third place in the league standings.—
Michael Huntley,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
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By the time the trial finishes, Halioua may already have had the drug on the market for years.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The film conveniently concludes in 1988, five years before Chandler’s abuse allegations came to light.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
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Powell, meanwhile, is set to step down as Fed chair when his term concludes on May 15, capping an eight-year tenure as the leader of the central bank.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
Cite this Entry
“Culminates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culminates. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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