climax 1 of 2

Definition of climaxnext

climax

2 of 2

verb

as in to finish
to bring to a triumphant conclusion organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun climax differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of climax are acme, apex, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to climax?

In some situations, the words acme and climax are roughly equivalent. However, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When is apex a more appropriate choice than climax?

Although the words apex and climax have much in common, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When would culmination be a good substitute for climax?

The words culmination and climax can be used in similar contexts, but culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When can peak be used instead of climax?

While the synonyms peak and climax are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

In what contexts can pinnacle take the place of climax?

The meanings of pinnacle and climax largely overlap; however, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When is it sensible to use summit instead of climax?

The synonyms summit and climax are sometimes interchangeable, but summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of climax
Noun
Hosts Tamerra Griffin and James McNicholas break down a massive six-match World Cup slate as group stages reach their climax. The Athletic, New York Times, 25 June 2026 In the film’s ferocious climax, Jim is shot but escapes with Selena and Hannah, and the story closes (28 days later) back in the countryside as a jet flies over and augurs their rescue. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 24 June 2026
Verb
The film’s first 40 minutes brings what feels like a continuous cut of increasingly bloody action, climaxing in the leveling of an entire town. Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 May 2026 In 2024, faulty financial forecasts that climaxed in a multimillion-dollar deficit caused the district to be placed under fiscal emergency by the state. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for climax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climax
Noun
  • Stay safe amid dangerous heat All are invited to celebrate America's milestone on the National Mall.
    Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Chapman allowed back-to-back singles after his milestone strikeout, but got Jo Adell to ground into a double play to secure his 17th save.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • Gaines said the decision felt like the culmination of the last several years of her life, but also a reminder of how far the debate had moved.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • Tuesday’s demonstrations, which were organized in part by the March and March civic organization, were the culmination of protests beginning in April.
    Rebecca Schneid, Time, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • That was a 2019 Bahamas Bowl loss in Will Healy’s first season at Charlotte, which finished 7-6 for the 49ers’ lone winning season since elevating to the FBS in 2015.
    Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • His youngest daughter is now among the six candidates in the special election that will decide who finishes his term.
    Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • The company is also on track to meet its 2030 goal of returning more water to local watersheds than its data centers consume.
    Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 1 July 2026
  • The science that happens outside the wet lab, in the field, the watershed and the population, is the next frontier for a tool like this.
    John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Youngsters romped through the crowd, happily indulging in eggthrowing or dunking-machine antics or trying to climb to the pinnacle of a greased pole, where a $20 bill waited.
    Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • But decades before industrial America transformed global horology in the latter half of the 19th century, the Founding Fathers lived in a world where mechanical timekeeping represented the pinnacle of craftsmanship, technology, and taste.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Before Greene's first homer, Kerry Carpenter hit a solo shot in which center fielder Spencer Jones could not complete a leaping catch at the right-center field fence and saw the ball pop out of his glove into the Yankees' bullpen.
    CBS New York Team, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • During his tenure, ownership of the team shifted from the O’Malley family to Rupert Murdoch’s Fox Entertainment Group, which completed the purchase of the Dodgers in March 1998.
    Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Molde’s appeal is not based on a single landmark, but on its position between fjord, coast, islands, and mountains.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • The Supreme Court has released a slew of opinions to mark the end of its current term, and one of them could prove to be a landmark case for personal protections.
    Justin Klawans, TheWeek, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • But at its zenith, the location attracted the global A-list and fashion crowd, both within its rooms and food and beverage spaces, before the arrival of social media.
    Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • Instead, all of those previous experiments have culminated in Messi's World Cup zenith now.
    Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Climax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climax. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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