as in climactic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point
as the war reached its climacteric phase, the atrocities dramatically increased, both in number and brutality
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in climax
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs
historians attempting to pinpoint the Roman Empire's climacteric, that precise moment when it began its long downhill slide
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of climacteric
Claire Messud, Harper's Magazine, 22 June 2021
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
Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
Adjective
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
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
Noun
These are called climacteric, and will respond to the presence of ethylene by producing more ethylene.
—Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climacteric
Adjective
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Just a short walk from the soundstage where the cast was filming that climactic scene is a workshop containing some of Reed's inventions.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Our goal this episode was ending certain stories in climactic ways, yet building a platform for the show to leap off.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The attractions, diversions, and climaxes just keep on coming: cortisol, dopamine, cortisol, dopamine, boom-boom-boom.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
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Even with the most amateur performers, audiences can hear and feel the overtures and climaxes.—
James Russell,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chantel says that when Savannah isn't showering Ivy with gifts, her adoptive parents keep her biological mom updated on major milestones.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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Murray noted that 2004 was a milestone for Black homeownership, hitting a highmark of 49%, but it’s decreased considerably since then.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The river's watershed is home to 10 reservoirs and three drinking water facilities serving more than 2 million people, American Rivers says.—
Li Cohen,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2025
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For decades into the 20th century, the watershed by Philadelphia was so polluted that the fish could not make the journey upstream.—
Elisabeth Vincentelli,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Last of Us tells the story of two survivors (Ramsey and Pedro Pascal) many years after the onset of an apocalyptic plague.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Apr. 2025
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For a movie about an apocalyptic clash of vampires and gangsters, Sinners has moments of unexpected jubilance, even rapture.—
A.A. Dowd,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trans groups are worried that Wednesday’s landmark decision will undermine their rights, even though Britain’s highest court said transgender people remain protected from discrimination.—
Kwiyeon Ha and Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
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The open-air shopping area also represents a cultural landmark, with an impressive variety of galleries, theaters and restaurants serving up a taste of the city’s diverse flavors.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The order, which Trump signed in private, seeks to jumpstart the mining of both U.S. and international waters as part of a push to offset China's sweeping control of the critical minerals industry.—
Ernest Scheyder and Jarrett Renshaw,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Enough jaw-dropping critical injuries are sustained by characters in The Raid to overcrowd the Pitt.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Given the lack of standardized transparency across global skincare markets, in-house production serves a pivotal role.—
Xandra Harbet,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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The same videos played a pivotal role in the last trial, when a witness counted the drinks Read appeared to drink at both establishments.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
25 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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