as in apocalyptic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point
the French Revolution is usually regarded as one of the climactic events in modern European history
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Recent Examples of climactic
They’ve been almost monomaniacally determined to deliver a climactic final eight episodes that provide not only a feeling of resolution, but of satisfying inevitability.
—
Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
There’s something particularly climactic about this year’s WNBA Finals, coming weeks before the league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire and with most players becoming free agents in anticipation of a new leaguewide salary structure.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
And as the climactic ending of the novel shows, repression leads to terrible consequences.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But despite the anti-climactic developments of Tuesday, there is still a very real chance that James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end by this time next year, if not before then.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Kate Aurthur, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
There’s something particularly climactic about this year’s WNBA Finals, coming weeks before the league’s collective bargaining agreement is set to expire and with most players becoming free agents in anticipation of a new leaguewide salary structure.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Oct. 2025
And as the climactic ending of the novel shows, repression leads to terrible consequences.
—Mj Franklin, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
But despite the anti-climactic developments of Tuesday, there is still a very real chance that James' tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers comes to an end by this time next year, if not before then.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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This may leave countries to do more in terms of adaption to the changing climate whether or not the shift reaches the most apocalyptic forecasts of climate campaigners.—
Matthew Tostevin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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The name, borrowed from the post-apocalyptic movie series, immediately drew attention for its bold tone.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Hoover helped the offense convert two pivotal third downs on the decisive drive late in the fourth quarter as the Horned Frogs took over six minutes off the clock before McCashland’s field goal.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Oct. 2025
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In 1946-47, the Ruoccos played a pivotal role in founding a multidisciplinary artists’ organization called the Allied Artists Council, a subgroup of which, the Allied Craftsmen, has a vibrant membership and active presence in the community after nearly 80 years.—
Michael James Rocha,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Black Americans were at a critical juncture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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After the war, Riefenstahl’s career included invitations to film festivals and critical praise, a lovely lake home in Bavaria, and snarling attacks on anyone who questioned her lies.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
15 July 2025
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For this reader, roughly the same age as Sam Raymond, there is uncommon pleasure in the paradoxes of this climacteric tale.—
Claire Messud,
Harper's Magazine,
22 June 2021
Adjective
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Chicago won in its return to the postseason for the first time since 2017 – and advanced for the first time since reaching the Eastern Conference final in 2009 – by virtue of a decisive 3-1 win over Orlando City.—
Avi Creditor,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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New York City mayoral candidates Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa tried to land a decisive blow against Zohran Mamdani in the last debate before early voting began.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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That’s why career development conversations play such a crucial role.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
23 Oct. 2025
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That Episode 5 car ride is arguably the series’ most crucial scene, and the dialogue about the vagrant bird its most poignant.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Its release coincided with the 350th anniversary of Christiaan Huygens’ invention of the spiral spring, a watershed moment for watchmaking.—
Lily Templeton,
Footwear News,
28 Oct. 2025
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There’s work to be done, certainly, but this is a watershed moment for anyone paying attention.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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