climax 1 of 2

noun

ˈklī-ˌmaks How to pronounce climax (audio)
Definition of climaxnext
1
as in milestone
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs the climax of the story occurs when the hero discovers the identity of his father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in culmination
the highest part or point the climax of her career as a performer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Finally, the sun will square Pluto on April 25, bringing the month to a powerful climax. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 The climax of White Noise revolves around the brain chemistry of Jack’s wife Babette, who is secretly taking an unregulated psychopharmaceutical called Dylar. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
At one point, the script prominently featured Hobbs, with the story climaxing in the destruction of Rio. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 24 Nov. 2025 Her insistence that she’s being hit on and asides about ketchup for her steak climax with a note-perfect response to the news that the restaurant has received some complaints. —Jesse Hassenger, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for climax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climax
  1. milestone
  2. culmination
  3. finish
  4. watershed
  5. pinnacle
  6. complete
  7. landmark
  8. zenith
Noun
  • But the Avs responded, with Brent Burns — who was honored before the game for his 1,000-game streak that hit the milestone on Saturday in the road win over Dallas — forcing the action.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
  • The milestone occurred when the mission's Orion capsule was about 39,000 miles (62,764 kilometers) from the moon and roughly 232,000 miles (373,368 km) from Earth, a commentator said during NASA's Artemis 2 livestream.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of milestone
Noun
  • The bill’s passage was the culmination of a yearslong push by Israel’s far right to escalate punishment against Palestinians convicted of attacking Israelis.
    — Julia Frankel, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Masao is the culmination of owner Nick Hanke's 20 years of training under a master sushi chef, chef Phil Shires' desire to end his cooking career with a bang, and a whole lot of love.
    — Lucia Cheng, Des Moines Register, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of culmination
Verb
  • Passover always starts and finishes in the evening, but traditions can vary depending on geographical location.
    — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • As my colleague Sam McDowell deftly summed up last week, Royals outfielders combined in 2025 to finish last in on-base percentage, 29th in OPS (on-base plus slugging), 29th in home runs and 30th in runs.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of finish
Noun
  • Fecko says the agency operates two major reservoirs in the American River watershed, designed to capture snowmelt runoff and store water for future use.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
  • The snowpack in the upper part of the Colorado River watershed has rapidly dwindled over the last month and now measures just 23% of average.
    — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Definition of watershed
Noun
  • In a new lawsuit, one of the first three women to officiate an NFL game describes her three years at the pinnacle of her profession as a descent into the grip of a sexist institution unable to treat a woman as an equal.
    — Larry Neumeister, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
  • But coach Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks quickly reminded TCU that there are still levels to this, and the Horned Frogs are still a tier or two away from joining South Carolina, UConn, Texas and UCLA at the pinnacle of the sport.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • Major renovations were completed in 2025, which saw the lobby and majority of the rooms upgraded, plus the addition of new restaurants including high-end Indian eatery Mahika.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Officials say the investigation remains ongoing and could take between 60 to 90 days to complete.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of complete
Noun
  • The board game features historic and famous landmarks, including the Biltmore Hotel, the Venetian Pool and City Hall.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2026
  • After a debut season as shocking and raw as Aunt Lydia’s aforementioned act of discipline, Bruce Miller’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s landmark novel drifted into repetitious patterns with a familiarity that dulled their impact.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of landmark
Noun
  • But the newspaper hit its zenith during World War II, and perhaps its most important contributor was the cartoonist Bill Mauldin.
    — Bill McKibben, The New York Review of Books, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Klosterman believes right now is likely the zenith.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of zenith

Browse Nearby Words

climates
climax
climaxed
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Cite this Entry

“Climax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climax. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on climax

Nglish: Translation of climax for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about climax

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