as in apocalyptic
of, relating to, or being a major turning point
the French Revolution is usually regarded as one of the climactic events in modern European history
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Recent Examples of climactic
The band’s message may have got slightly lost, however, amid their acid-trip screen visuals, military drag, and the climactic near-naked reveals, not to mention the sudden appearance of a rocket-straddling Vladimir Lenin impersonator who looked more like the Smurfs’ arch-nemesis Gargamel.
—
Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025
After seven movies, nearly 30 years and more than $4 billion in global grosses, Tom Cruise looks set to retire his Ethan Hunt character with the eighth climactic installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025
The climactic scenes leading up to that needle drop are naturally interspersed with video that Jia shot on his iPhone.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Answers come during a climactic showdown between Sara and Kynch.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025
After seven movies, nearly 30 years and more than $4 billion in global grosses, Tom Cruise looks set to retire his Ethan Hunt character with the eighth climactic installment, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 May 2025
The climactic scenes leading up to that needle drop are naturally interspersed with video that Jia shot on his iPhone.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 9 May 2025
Answers come during a climactic showdown between Sara and Kynch.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for climactic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climactic
Adjective
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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
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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
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
Adjective
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Beijing is the primary trading partner for many, but is also feared as a regional bully, in part due to its increasingly aggressive claims on natural resources such as critical fisheries.—
Tara Copp,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
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But at locations now facing critical shortages, staffing overnight shifts on a routine basis is no longer possible.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Rookies Willie MacIver and Logan Davidson drove in three of the A’s five runs, with Davidson scoring the tying run during a decisive eighth inning rally before MacIver’s RBI-single scored the go-ahead run.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
26 May 2025
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What sets a good doctor apart is judgment — the ability to navigate uncertainty, synthesize complex data and make decisive, accurate choices.—
Eric Snoey,
Twin Cities,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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As such, supplemental Federal assistance is crucial.—
Neal Earley,
Arkansas Online,
23 May 2025
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Importantly, a dog’s wants and needs do not always align with what their owners expect, and this is a crucial point in regards to animal welfare.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climactic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climactic. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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