CULMINATING Synonyms: 46 Similar and Opposite Words

culminating 1 of 2

adjective

as in crowning

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culminating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of culminate

as in finishing

to bring to a triumphant conclusion culminated the school year with a trip to New York

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of culminating

Verb

The sandals feature simple, elegant lines that come together in an innovative design, characterized by a slender strap that starts as a slingback and wraps around the foot, culminating in a wavy design over the toe. — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 July 2026 What’s Next In The Night Sky Over the next four weeks, the moon continues to wax, culminating in the rise — during dusk — of the full Buck Moon on July 29. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The fans were treated to an itinerary inspired by Shakira’s favorite places in the city, culminating in attending her concert (part of her biggest tour yet) on Monday, July 20. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026 The culminating event of the year is the annual tiki home bar tour. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026 The festival is held annually to celebrate the end of an outbreak of the plague in 1576 and is attended by thousands of people in boats and on the city’s canals, culminating in a fireworks show over the city. — Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026 Advertisement But the 2026 movie They Fight has a happy ending, culminating in Quincey winning a boxing tournament in Salisbury, Maryland, validating Manigan as a coach. — Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 17 July 2026 During more than two decades of service, culminating as Chief Financial Officer, Ron built a solid financial foundation for M-DCPS. — Austin Horn july 15, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for culminating

Adjective

But a turn of the tide began to look inevitable, and Harry Kane produced his crowning moment in an England shirt.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 11 July 2026
So, this labor deal could be a crowning part of Manfred’s legacy.

— Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of crowning

Verb

Triple-double with meaning LeBron left no doubt about his championship impact in closing out that first title in 2012 against the Thunder, finishing that series-winning Game 5 victory with 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2026
The improvement continued with a 3-0 hammering of Austria in the round of 32, including a double from centre-forward Oyarzabal and right-back Pedro Porro finishing off a neat team move.

— Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of finishing

Adjective

Eight years later, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon — a remarkable achievement that was the climactic moment of the Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 4 July 2026
Courtesy of Netflix ©2026 Henry Cavill reprises his role as Sherlock for about six total minutes of screentime (including his very clearly CGI-ed presence at Enola’s climactic wedding).

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of climactic

Verb

Third, Rose made strategic investments in role players, completing the roster without chasing headlines.

— Robert Reiss, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
The ruling granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting the firms from completing the merger and from consolidating their operations.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 20 July 2026

Definition of completing

Adjective

But in the run-up to Cal Poly’s fateful 2024-25 season, their relationship quickly deteriorated into a power struggle.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026
Scheffler, who played with DeChambeau in that fateful second round, was asked about it the following day, but decided against giving his opinion.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of fateful

Verb

In 2022, Albania expelled Iranian diplomats after concluding that Tehran was behind a wave of cyberattacks aimed at government institutions and critical infrastructure.

— Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Saturday introduces Generation 816, a youth initiative that pairs a talent showcase with community resources, before concluding with an evening collaboration at Vine Street Brewing Co.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026

Definition of concluding

Verb

Bloody, disturbing, shocking, and entertaining as hell, the Ghost Ship opening couldn’t be any more different from the absolute slog that follows it, climaxing on a muddled and overly complicated ending.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026
The film’s first 40 minutes brings what feels like a continuous cut of increasingly bloody action, climaxing in the leveling of an entire town.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 May 2026

Definition of climaxing

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“Culminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culminating. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of culminating

adjective

verb

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