Synonym Chooser

How does the noun culmination differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of culmination are acme, apex, climax, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When would acme be a good substitute for culmination?

The synonyms acme and culmination are sometimes interchangeable, but acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would apex be a reasonable alternative to culmination?

The meanings of apex and culmination largely overlap; however, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When is it sensible to use climax instead of culmination?

The words climax and culmination are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When could peak be used to replace culmination?

The words peak and culmination can be used in similar contexts, but peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When might pinnacle be a better fit than culmination?

Although the words pinnacle and culmination have much in common, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When can summit be used instead of culmination?

While in some cases nearly identical to culmination, summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

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 culmination Most of these distilleries were already following these guidelines, but the rules came as a relief to many, the culmination of years of lobbying for a legal definition. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2025 These quarterbacks represent the culmination of decades of struggle and gradual change in a league that once systematically excluded Black athletes from football’s most important position. Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 4 Sep. 2025 The research marks the culmination of a four-year national initiative to address a critical blind spot in timber engineering involving the lack of structural data for walls with window openings. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025 And that has come to its culmination on this particular tour. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for culmination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culmination
Noun
  • Knowing Thursday could be the pinnacle at Ballhalla this season only made the moment more savory.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Aston Martin has, as noted, pushed its cars decidedly upmarket, and this pinnacle offering now competes, in price and power, directly with vehicles such as the $504,000 Ferrari 12Cilindri Spider while coming in well above the Bentley Continental GTC, which starts at $336,000.
    Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The speakers and attendees outlined their vision for the world at a time when national conservatism has reached its zenith of influence.
    Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 3 Sep. 2025
  • These continued every few days for the better part of the next year, one Bowyer would look back on as a personal and professional zenith.
    DAVID AMSDEN, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • One is the continued dominance of Argentina, 10 points clear at the top with one round of matches remaining.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • An adjustable buckle across the top keeps them in place, and their closed-toe design helps keep feet warm as temperatures get colder.
    Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Heeled mules are the ideal way to take both your style and your feet (literally) to new heights.
    Amber Cardullo, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Recently, however, both teams have elevated themselves to greater heights.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The peak of hurricane season is here, and activity could soon ramp up, despite the relative quiet currently occurring in the tropics, according to meteorologists.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • The roller coaster kept climbing higher and dropping lower until a decade and a half ago, when the film and TV star hit a new peak, then imploded.
    Oren Peleg, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • As Bouchra begins to make a film of the mother-daughter relationship, the film builds to a tender climax.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Some sequences feel hurried, some satirical dialogue is a little too on the nose and a special effect around the climax lacks the polish of the production design elsewhere.
    Leila Latif, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The most challenging accusations reach the libertarian administration's apex—the Mileis themselves.
    Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Liverpool are simply higher up the food chain — although the apex predator remains Real Madrid, who captured Trent Alexander-Arnold from Anfield earlier in the summer.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Culmination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culmination. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on culmination

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