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
Serra details the ritualized battles, from the wounding of bulls by picadors to the matador’s climactic kill, and observes Roca being dressed in his elaborate costumes by a skilled associate.
—
Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
Hewitt then shared that her first injury came during the climactic finale of the original film.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 17 June 2025
Entering the climactic stage 20 as the in-form climber in the race, 43 seconds behind Isaac del Toro, the surprise 21-year-old wearer of the pink jersey, Carapaz was arguably favourite for the Maglia Rosa.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 June 2025
In one climactic scene, while on an interfaith panel discussion, their argument overwhelms the event.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 20 June 2025
Hewitt then shared that her first injury came during the climactic finale of the original film.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 17 June 2025
Entering the climactic stage 20 as the in-form climber in the race, 43 seconds behind Isaac del Toro, the surprise 21-year-old wearer of the pink jersey, Carapaz was arguably favourite for the Maglia Rosa.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 14 June 2025
In one climactic scene, while on an interfaith panel discussion, their argument overwhelms the event.
—Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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Born into the cult, Prophet draws comparisons between the group’s apocalyptic dogma (braced for a Soviet nuclear strike, the church built extensive Montana bomb shelters in the early 1990s), and Christian Nationalism, QAnon and the MAGA movement.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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This seemingly apocalyptic scenario wasn’t confined to Antarctica.—
Discover Magazine,
Discover Magazine,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 July 2025
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This is the first of a six-part series looking at figures who have played a pivotal role in a modern football success story.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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This figure has already surpassed the 1,274 cases recorded during the peak year of 2019, marking a critical public health milestone reached just halfway through 2025.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 July 2025
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From there, the first-year MLS club made two critical defensive errors.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 July 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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The idea that no one was born inherently superior, that status wasn’t tied to birth but to citizenship and shared rights, was a radical break in human history and a decisive rejection of Old World European ideology.—
Jared Nordlund,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 July 2025
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The second set ultimately went all the way to a tiebreak, and after trading two mini-breaks apiece, the British pair gained a decisive two-point advantage, aided by a Pel double-fault.—
Leon Imber,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Both aspects are a crucial part of the Superman story.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
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In a crucial leadership change last September, Starbucks appointed Molly Liu, former chief of Starbucks China's digital division, to head its business in the country.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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