pinnacle

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pinnacle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pinnacle are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to pinnacle?

Although the words acme and pinnacle 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

When is it sensible to use apex instead of pinnacle?

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

the apex of Dutch culture

When could climax be used to replace pinnacle?

The words climax and pinnacle 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 is culmination a more appropriate choice than pinnacle?

In some situations, the words culmination and pinnacle are roughly equivalent. However, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When might peak be a better fit than pinnacle?

While the synonyms peak and pinnacle are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When can summit be used instead of pinnacle?

The words summit and pinnacle can be used in similar contexts, but 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 pinnacle Everyone knows the pinnacle of summer is summer vacation — and there’s no packing essential quite like a pair of white sneakers. Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 16 June 2025 The pinnacle came in 2012-13, when Miami stormed to a 66-16 finish, the best mark in franchise history and one of the top 20 regular seasons ever recorded in the NBA. Kaitlyn Pohly, Miami Herald, 8 June 2025 While Roland Garros is considered the pinnacle of the clay season, there are many other ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) tournaments played on the red dust. Rosa De Acosta, CNN Money, 6 June 2025 The new Compton High School, which will open this fall, stands as a pinnacle example: Teachers will not have their own classrooms — but will conduct classes in various spaces depending on topic and availability. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pinnacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinnacle
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
Noun
  • The Midnight Madness People’s Choice Award goes on to shoot to the near top of Netflix’s chart of non-English film hits on record, now featuring as No. 5 with 82.8 million views.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 16 June 2025
  • That move had gone down badly with a number of investors, unlike today’s announcement which could soon see Gucci and other Kering brands under the stewardship of a boss who drove Renault back to the top.
    Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Noun
  • 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, New Atlas, 24 June 2025
  • Located in New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest, Mount Washington is the tallest peak in the northeastern United States.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • Harvard alleged the revocation was the culmination of a retaliatory campaign by the Trump administration on academic freedom at Harvard.
    Alexandra Koch , Bill Mears, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2025
  • Washington said that was the culmination of a day in which Enright and the Angels were frustrated with Ortiz.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • Turmoil continues to roil the Middle East in a 12-day conflict that reached new heights June 21 after President Donald Trump authorized a series of U.S. missile strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 24 June 2025
  • With production reaching new heights, quality control will become harder to manage and more important.
    Bill Rokos, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Noun
  • These special flagships are at the apex of its retail strategy and network of 364 points of sale.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 18 June 2025
  • Trusted advisors are the apex of the professional class.
    Mark A. Cohen, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pinnacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinnacle. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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