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
Relevance
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
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 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
-
But the most climactic moment of the trailer is a standoff between Joel and Ellie.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Sunday night’s Oscar telecast started and ended with indelible moments: a stirring Wicked duet and a climactic pair of wins by Anora.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Higher, faster, changing keys, breaking off into riffs and climaxes.—
Anelise Chen,
The Atlantic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
At several points, the action pauses and an ensemble of actors in Edwardian dress scatters around the deck in panic, wearing Titanic-style life vests that foreshadow the play’s catastrophic climax.—
Houman Barekat,
New York Times,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
From Paul Newman’s 40th in 1965 to Scarlett Johansson’s 30th in 2014 and Roger Federer’s yearly family gatherings, Moët has marked some of the most memorable milestones.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Despite the stinging nature of Boston's 123-116 defeat on its home parquet, Tatum's night included more milestones.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Hikers and dogs are not allowed in any of the watershed’s reservoirs or streams.—
Krissy Waite,
The Mercury News,
19 Feb. 2025
-
The Little Calumet River Basin Development Commission manages a flood control project and works with the communities along the watershed to make sure the water stays and moves where it is supposed to, Repay said.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
In an attempt to restore their empires, two opposing forces from the depths of outer space, One and Zero, unleash an apocalyptic conflict on Earth.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
7 Mar. 2025
-
The series, from This Is Us creator Dan Fogelman, combines traditional political thriller sensibilities with near-future apocalyptic sci-fi to create a twisty-turny story filled with mystery, action and a great cast of characters.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
From urban landmarks to cutting-edge retail environments, companies that invest in immersive design, storytelling, and technology are setting themselves apart while driving significant growth.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Our panelists will also address the challenges the community faces, from gentrification to the erasure of its cultural landmarks, and why the recovery of this legacy is vital for both Altadena and Hollywood's futures.—
Essence,
Essence,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Metamask Card Brings Crypto Natives Real World Utility The critical innovation now happening is connecting these stablecoins directly to everyday payment systems without sacrificing self-custody: a principle that separates crypto from traditional finance.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Navigating healthy relationships can be challenging for both teens and parents, but caution and open communication are critical to prevent acts of violence.—
Julianna Bragg,
CNN,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
This is a pivotal moment to foster a more inclusive and equitable financial system.—
Dave Birnbaum,
Forbes,
8 Mar. 2025
-
Cancer: Cindy Brady As the sweet and innocent youngest daughter in the Brady family, Cindy is a pivotal family member.—
Athena Sobhan,
People.com,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share