as in crowning
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as in finishing
to bring to a triumphant conclusion
culminated the school year with a trip to New York
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Recent Examples of culminating
Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Unwinding those restrictions took about 18 months, culminating with the lifting of a Chinese ban on Australian lobsters in late 2024.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
When the group disbanded after Garcia’s death in 1995, Weir continued to lead or co-lead iterations of the band for another 30 years, culminating in a three-night 60th-anniversary celebration in San Francisco this past August.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Staying true to our belief in the value of in-person connection, three-quarters of this course will be offered virtually, with the culminating module hosted in Tulsa.
—Justin Harlan, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
The falsified grant applications led to several investigations, culminating at the federal level.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Fland then scored nine points during the first seven minutes of the second half, culminating with his third 3 to leave him 8-of-12 shooting as Gators led 60-36.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
The route begins near Salzburg and Lake Fuschl, then moves through the Tyrolean Alps and Bavarian countryside, before culminating in Munich with an authentic Oktoberfest celebration.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2026
The Ravens went to the AFC title game three times in his first five years as coach, culminating in their run to a Super Bowl title as a wild card, when Harbaugh beat his brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers for the title.
—Noah Trister, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Verb
Hosted by Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills, 90210), the series will premiere Wednesday, May 13 from 9-10 PM, airing weekly on the CW, culminating in a live two-hour finale on Wednesday, July 22, from 8-10 PM.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2026
Unwinding those restrictions took about 18 months, culminating with the lifting of a Chinese ban on Australian lobsters in late 2024.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
When the group disbanded after Garcia’s death in 1995, Weir continued to lead or co-lead iterations of the band for another 30 years, culminating in a three-night 60th-anniversary celebration in San Francisco this past August.
—David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 12 Jan. 2026
Staying true to our belief in the value of in-person connection, three-quarters of this course will be offered virtually, with the culminating module hosted in Tulsa.
—Justin Harlan, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
The falsified grant applications led to several investigations, culminating at the federal level.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 11 Jan. 2026
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Fland then scored nine points during the first seven minutes of the second half, culminating with his third 3 to leave him 8-of-12 shooting as Gators led 60-36.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2026
The route begins near Salzburg and Lake Fuschl, then moves through the Tyrolean Alps and Bavarian countryside, before culminating in Munich with an authentic Oktoberfest celebration.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 6 Jan. 2026
The Ravens went to the AFC title game three times in his first five years as coach, culminating in their run to a Super Bowl title as a wild card, when Harbaugh beat his brother Jim’s San Francisco 49ers for the title.
—Noah Trister, Denver Post, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culminating
Adjective
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What should have been a crowning moment turned out to be one of the worst of Melissa Joan Hart's life.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Dec. 2025
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It’s been championed as a crowning achievement for Black creativity and ownership in the entertainment industry, though there have been indirect criticisms within some corners of Hollywood, including by Donald Glover’s Atlanta and Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Shough spent three seasons at Oregon and Texas Tech before finishing at Louisville in 2024.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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If schedules clash, suggest a two-step approach, like meeting online first and finishing later.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Everything culminates in a climactic scene in the Shrieking Shack, where the truth about the two Animagi (wizards who can turn into animals) is revealed, plus Sirius Black (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) comes clean as a friend of Harry’s parents who can also turn into a black dog.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
13 Jan. 2026
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There's a climactic moment in Palm Springs when Poppy cuts down the plastic just in time for a summer rainstorm to hit.—
Ashley Boucher,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And, one after another, her children followed the same path of completing one or two years of college before dropping out and launching families of their own.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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Not only is the actual lighting itself important for completing tasks and creating ambiance, but the fixtures also double as decor.—
Brittney Morgan,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nielsen ratings for Dokoupil's first five days on air showed a 23% drop in viewership from the year prior, when then-anchor Norah O'Donnell was concluding her tenure at the helm of the broadcast.—
Kyler Alvord,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office in November declined to file criminal charges in the death, concluding there was insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The choices ahead may define the character of American foreign policy for generations to come, just as Washington’s fateful decision did in the republic’s earliest days.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
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In her statement, Becca shared why the two ended up encountering ICE on that fateful day.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The film approaches its subject from three overlapping points of view, all climaxing in what appears to be the destruction of a major American city.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
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At one point, the script prominently featured Hobbs, with the story climaxing in the destruction of Rio.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Back treatments address muscle tension while clearing meridian blockages.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Culminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culminating. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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