pinnacle

noun

ˈpi-ni-kəl How to pronounce pinnacle (audio)
Definition of pinnaclenext
as in zenith
the highest part or point a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pinnacle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pinnacle are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to pinnacle?

Although the words acme and pinnacle have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When is it sensible to use apex instead of pinnacle?

The meanings of apex and pinnacle largely overlap; however, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When could climax be used to replace pinnacle?

The words climax and pinnacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When is culmination a more appropriate choice than pinnacle?

In some situations, the words culmination and pinnacle are roughly equivalent. However, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When might peak be a better fit than pinnacle?

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

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When can summit be used instead of pinnacle?

The words summit and pinnacle can be used in similar contexts, 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 pinnacle Brooke Shields just attended the opening night of Andrew Scott’s off-Broadway play Vanya in a dapper blazer, straight-leg pants, and a gorgeous crossbody bag that looked like the pinnacle of convenience (without sacrificing style, of course). —Clara McMahon, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025 The pinnacle of The White Lotus’s third season could have been Laurie’s monologue. —Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025 For international visitors, Broadway represents the pinnacle of American theater, often delivered with a level of production quality that’s hard to match elsewhere. —Judy Koutsky, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 The pinnacle of the reunion was the unveiling of the monument for all survivors. —Arkansas Online, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pinnacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinnacle
  1. zenith
  2. top
  3. peak
  4. culmination
  5. height
  6. apex
Noun
  • Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna applauds the fans (Alex Broadway/Getty Images) This would be the zenith, a crescendo of noise.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Conclusion Just as the zenith of economic and earnings optimism in early 2025 gave way to creeping concerns about the durability of growth under pressure from possible tariff increases, maximum pessimism will eventually give way to a better reality.
    — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • If finding indoor shelter is not an option: Avoid open fields, the top of a hill, or a ridge top.
    — KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Veteran pollster Nate Silver predicted Ocasio-Cortez will be at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket in 2028.
    — Cate Martel, The Hill, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of top
Noun
  • Doncic was traded seemingly at the peak of his career, which made the trade even more shocking and inexplicable.
    — Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Dell rates this ultrawide monitor at 350 nits (candelas per square meter) of brightness, though in our tests, the monitor reached a peak luminance of just 265 nits.
    — PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of peak
Noun
  • The 4,000-square-foot unit at 425 Broome Street is the culmination of a series of pop-ups that the brand has opened around the world over the past six years.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Trump’s tariffs are the culmination of a decades-long shift in political perceptions in the United States, in which trade has gone from an unalloyed good to the source of all ills.
    — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • That united display of fealty reflected Big Tech’s hopes that Trump would be more accommodating than President Biden’s administration and help propel an already booming industry to even greater heights.
    — Mae Anderson and Michael Liedtke, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Hanging Your Curtain Rods Too Low One thing that can dramatically increase the feeling of space in your room is hanging your curtains at the right height.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of height
Noun
  • WrestleMania season stands as the apex of excitement for WWE fans, a two-night spectacle promising the year's most monumental moments.
    — Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Zahn McClarnon’s depiction of Joe’s resentment and guilt, still simmering but on the verge of spilling over, reaches its apex by episode’s end.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of apex

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Pinnacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinnacle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pinnacle

Nglish: Translation of pinnacle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pinnacle

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