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
The band’s message may have got slightly lost, however, amid their acid-trip screen visuals, military drag, and the climactic near-naked reveals, not to mention the sudden appearance of a rocket-straddling Vladimir Lenin impersonator who looked more like the Smurfs’ arch-nemesis Gargamel.
—
Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025
After seven movies, nearly 30 years and more than $4 billion in global grosses, Tom Cruise looks set to retire his Ethan Hunt character with the eighth climactic installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025
The climactic scenes leading up to that needle drop are naturally interspersed with video that Jia shot on his iPhone.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Answers come during a climactic showdown between Sara and Kynch.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025
After seven movies, nearly 30 years and more than $4 billion in global grosses, Tom Cruise looks set to retire his Ethan Hunt character with the eighth climactic installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025
The climactic scenes leading up to that needle drop are naturally interspersed with video that Jia shot on his iPhone.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Answers come during a climactic showdown between Sara and Kynch.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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He and other firefighters returning from distress calls described an apocalyptic level of destruction.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
19 May 2025
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Adding to the confusion, their on-site contact Marita (Abuela Marita) has disappeared, possibly in connection with her apocalyptic Christian temple.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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More news: Yankees Make Trade, Send Pitcher to NL Central Club In the 2021 postseason, Matzek played a pivotal role in the Braves' World Series run, going 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 13 appearances and 15.2 innings.—
Noah Camras,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
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Michaels, 35, was playing a foot soldier in the White Walkers’ army of the dead during a climactic battle sequence in The Long Night, the pivotal third episode in Season 8.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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According to George Dimov, CPA, founder and CEO of Dimov Tax, the middle of the year offers a critical but underused window for strategic decisions.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Students are left without the critical education needed when entering the workforce and won’t be equipped with the tools necessary to lead and build organizations that are inclusive and sustainable.—
Janice Gassam Asare,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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Macerating unripe climacteric fruit in sugar, however, isn’t a substitute for ripening them; that just takes time in your kitchen counter’s fruit basket.—
Bill St. John,
The Denver Post,
8 May 2017
Adjective
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Rookies Willie MacIver and Logan Davidson drove in three of the A’s five runs, with Davidson scoring the tying run during a decisive eighth inning rally before MacIver’s RBI-single scored the go-ahead run.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
26 May 2025
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This is not a rivalry that fans will be talking about 10 years from now, but after Priest’s decisive and somewhat surprising victory at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, both Priest and McIntyre are still strongly positioned as cornerstones of the main event picture.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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As such, supplemental Federal assistance is crucial.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
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However, the forward has proved a crucial player under head coach Hansi Flick this season and has emerged as a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or.—
Pol Ballús,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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