climax 1 of 2

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
Throw on a sweater — even merely recalling the penultimate season’s climax is likely to give you chills all over again — and keep reading. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 16 July 2025 The original Highlander starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery and portrayed the climax of an ancient battle between immortal warriors, unfolding through interwoven past and present-day storylines. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 2 July 2025
Verb
There’s a lot of loss and searching that almost seems to be taking place in an acoustically inclined underworld, climaxing in a number that feels like Orpheus and Eurydice walking happily ever after into the dawn. Chris Willman, Variety, 13 May 2025 The event climaxed around 11:23 a.m. when the pyroclastic flow, triggered when magma mixed with snow, traveled more than a mile to the Valle del Leone within a minute. Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for climax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climax
Noun
  • The milestone also brought to mind a funny moment William shared years ago about George’s birthday.
    Janine Henni, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • 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
Noun
  • These few minutes with the whale sharks are the culmination of a year’s planning, a gigantic logistical effort to shadow a giant.
    Matthew Abbott, New York Times, 27 July 2025
  • The case was the culmination of a 16-year fight by an Idaho couple who sought only to build a home on their own property.
    Editorial, Boston Herald, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The Tour de France finished up Stage 16 on Tuesday with Valentin Paret-Peintre etching his name into the Tour, scooping up a victory in an emotional sprint to the finish.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025
  • Once baked, finish the casserole with plenty of shredded Gruyère cheese on top.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • If the war in Vietnam marked the pinnacle of war journalism, and AP had a legendary perch in that war, much of it was due to Faas.
    Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
  • The world tells of success as such a wonderful story, the pinnacle of happiness.
    Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Two giant yellow subwoofer tower speakers flanked his stage to complete a visual primary color wheel.
    Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2025
  • Wilson shined with the first team, completing more than half his passes and racking up a handful of touchdowns.
    Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 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
Noun
  • Not even the imaginary zenith of human civilization can overpower nature forever.
    Devan Coggan, EW.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Some shows in the U.S. later in the year might be about the zenith of anything that anybody ever imagined really.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Climax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climax. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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