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peak

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun peak differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of peak are acme, apex, climax, culmination, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When could acme be used to replace peak?

Although the words acme and peak have much in common, 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 peak?

The words apex and peak can be used in similar contexts, but apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When might climax be a better fit than peak?

While in some cases nearly identical to peak, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When is culmination a more appropriate choice than peak?

While the synonyms culmination and peak are close in meaning, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When is it sensible to use pinnacle instead of peak?

The words pinnacle and peak are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

In what contexts can summit take the place of peak?

In some situations, the words summit and peak are roughly equivalent. However, 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 peak
Noun
In his first season with the Celtics, Holiday earned his sixth career All-Defensive selection, shot a career-best 42.9% from 3-point range and was one of Boston’s top playoff performers, his impact peaking during the Eastern Conference finals against Indiana. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 24 June 2025 Testosterone levels generally peak during adolescence and young adulthood, and begin declining by approximately 1% per year after age 30 or 40. Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 24 June 2025
Verb
Google Trends data from April to May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, showed a worldwide peak in online searches for dog adoption, up to 250% higher than typical trends for early pandemic months. New Atlas, 24 June 2025 At its peak, the airline was operating as many as 14 daily flights to and from Miami International, according to the Miami Herald. Alain Sherter, CBS News, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for peak
Recent Examples of Synonyms for peak
Noun
  • Erick spent the day dragging through the coastal mountain range, dropping torrential quantities of rain.
    Luis Alberto Cruz, Chicago Tribune, 20 June 2025
  • Resting atop lookout mountain, the Keep can be described as a mountain flatlands.
    Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • As far back as a decade ago, when Villeneuve was on the promotion trail for Sicario, the Canadian said that action is art — and Bond is the very pinnacle of the genre.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 26 June 2025
  • Todd Golden’s Gators reached their sport’s pinnacle with their 65-63 win in the national title game on April 7 against Houston.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
Noun
  • Nature lovers will find an abundance of places to explore: Nearby McKee Botanical Garden brims with tropical plants (look for water lilies blooming in its streams), while Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge serves as a home for brown pelicans and other migrating avians.
    Kara Franker, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
  • With essentially zero time to react, the ball hit the brim of Smith's cap, with the right-hander narrowly escaping a serious injury.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • Though traders now head into the second half of the year with stocks at record highs, some remain optimistic the market could surge even higher in the months ahead.
    Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 30 June 2025
  • As stocks surge, Chanos has been warning of other market absurdities including the proliferation of Bitcoin treasury companies which raise money to buy and hold the cryptocurrency.
    Glen Luke Flanagan, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • For such a humanist filmmaker, Boyle reached his zenith by pondering us at our lowest point.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 20 June 2025
  • The band had reached its zenith, with Beatlemania-size crowds greeting them in Australia and Canada, and significant success cracking the American market.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • Suicide rates, especially among young men, began to rapidly increase in the 1960s and is among the highest in the world today.
    Morten Høi Jensen, The Dial, 19 June 2025
  • Ratcliffe has since increased his stake to nearly 30 per cent after spending a further $300m on new shares.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • But one who does not consistently reach such heights is Alfred Caldwell.
    Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 24 June 2025
  • In 2022, Rotterdam’s historic De Hef bridge was temporarily dismantled to accommodate the yacht Before Bezos set sail on Koru, a historic bridge in the Netherlands needed to be temporarily altered to accommodate the yacht's height.
    Caroline Blair, People.com, 24 June 2025
Verb
  • News of the deaths comes as New York City’s jail population has been rising sharply, in March cresting over 7,000 for the first time since 2019.
    Graham Rayman, New York Daily News, 21 June 2025
  • The Kentucky River crested in Frankfort, the capital, just shy of the city’s protective flood walls Monday morning.
    Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Peak.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/peak. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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