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
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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
-
The script musters scant interest in Niki’s career ambitions and romantic complications, and her halting conversations with her mother keep chasing a climactic point of mutual understanding that never arrives — a poignant impasse, perhaps, but a difficult one to structure a film around.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
21 May 2025
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Its iconic, climactic mirror maze shootout has since been echoed in countless films (from Enter the Dragon to the climax of John Wick: Chapter 2); in Us, a seaside carnival’s funhouse of mirrors marks the inciting location of horror and revelation.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
21 May 2025
Noun
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With its vintage vibes and slow-burn suspense, the film, directed by Matt Palmer, captivates audiences with its brutal, twisty climax and echoes horror classics like Scream and Heathers.—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
24 May 2025
-
Bird’s action scenes are their own symphonies, each with a distinct melody and a breathless climax.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
To mark the milestone, granddaughter Riley Keough shared an Instagram Stories tribute for Priscilla — the ex-wife of the late Elvis Presley.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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This philosophical underpinning drives the company beyond mere resurrection spectacles — a critique often levied by academic skeptics following the company’s milestone de-extinction announcement.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
Noun
-
The Dolores watershed is truly a gem that should be preserved and restored for future generations.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
27 May 2025
-
Each of these Justices has what could be called signature cases, with some splashy opinion reaching to be a watershed.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
The forecast is apocalyptic, but the disaster is always just over the horizon for the people in power at the moment.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
-
As my colleague Wendy Lee wrote recently, the company is working with filmmakers including Sean Douglas and his famous father Michael Keaton to create shorts that aren’t made with AI, but instead portray the technology in a less apocalyptic light than Hollywood is used to.—
Ryan Faughnder,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Noun
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Created by a Benedictine monk with a serious eye for detail, this whimsical stop features 125 tiny, handcrafted replicas of famous historic landmarks, like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, all located on the grounds of Alabama’s only Benedictine monastery, St. Bernard Abbey.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
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The National, Autograph Hotel Located in what was once the 1932 First National Center, The National is a historic landmark that once served as a banking hall.—
Anne Roderique-Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The timing couldn’t be worse for Harvard: The troubled university currently faces a critical dispute over funding and foreign student visas with the Trump administration.—
Andrew Follett,
National Review,
31 May 2025
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But expert groups were more critical of the proposal.—
Katherine Dillinger,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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Competing for the pivotal center position are Carter Miller and Cameron Kinnie, both vying to distinguish themselves and seize this critical spot in the lineup.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 May 2025
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Chiuri, who joined Dior in 2016 after her tenure at Valentino, has played a pivotal role in reshaping the French fashion house’s identity and product direction.—
Essence,
Essence,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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