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
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
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
Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
Adjective
Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
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
-
On the Big Island, 75 stunt performers gathered on the black lava fields of Kalapana to film one of the series’ climactic battles.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The item, used in the climactic battle of both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, is the crown jewel in the Propstore sale.—
Simon Thompson,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The climax of the match arrived in the 88th minute when Jennifer Echegini rose above the defenders to head home the winning goal, completing a remarkable comeback.—
Sindiswa Mabunda,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
-
Toward the film's climax, Clover confronts the wendigo version of her sister one last time.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Leading critics of the projects hailed Tuesday’s vote as a milestone in the fight to rein in San Diego’s unusually aggressive incentive for backyard apartments, which are formally called accessory dwelling units, or ADUs.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 July 2025
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The milestone also brought to mind a funny moment William shared years ago about George’s birthday.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
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For millennia, these fish darted in droves through the delta’s murky water and effectively supported the watershed’s entire food web.—
Moira Donovan,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 July 2025
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Today, there are eight points at which water flows into the lake, including from the 150-acre Roberts Brook watershed that extends beyond the UConn campus.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Today, apocalyptic narratives, from Hulu’s Paradise to Leave the World Behind on Netflix and James Cameron’s upcoming adaptation of the atomic bomb exposé Ghosts of Hiroshima, are increasingly shaping real-world demand.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 July 2025
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The passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bil Act invited howls of despair from progressives and conservatives alike, with apocalyptic doomsaying over the bill’s many impacts.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
28 July 2025
Noun
-
What beloved Valley landmarks used to look like Metro Phoenix has always been in a constant state of change.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
26 July 2025
-
Paddle down the Cumberland River and enjoy sights like Riverfront Park and other Nashville landmarks.—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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Austin city leaders are urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reinstate $50 million in funding for flood protection upgrades to critical city utility infrastructure — money that was pulled earlier this year.—
Dante Motley,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
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The blocking feature is a critical one, says Stephen Balkam, founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, a nonprofit organization aiming to make the online world safer for kids and their families.—
Anna Halkidis,
Parents,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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Longtime viewers would be hard-pressed to name a character more pivotal than Maggie and a star more watchable than Rogers.—
Ryan Coleman Published,
EW.com,
30 July 2025
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This is where external coaches can play a pivotal role.—
Michel Koopman,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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