culmination

noun

ˌkəl-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce culmination (audio)
Definition of culminationnext
as in pinnacle
the highest part or point an acting performance that was seen as the culmination of a brilliant career on the stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun culmination differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of culmination are acme, apex, climax, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When would acme be a good substitute for culmination?

The synonyms acme and culmination are sometimes interchangeable, but acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would apex be a reasonable alternative to culmination?

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

the apex of Dutch culture

When is it sensible to use climax instead of culmination?

The words climax and culmination 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 could peak be used to replace culmination?

The words peak and culmination can be used in similar contexts, but peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When might pinnacle be a better fit than culmination?

Although the words pinnacle and culmination have much in common, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When can summit be used instead of culmination?

While in some cases nearly identical to culmination, 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 culmination Court records reviewed by EW indicate that she was also arrested that October, making Monday's sentencing the culmination of three arrests within a three-month span. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025 The culmination of that process will occur in April when the Task Force votes on a final master plan if there is not unanimous support. —Dan Goldman, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025 This debut album is the culmination of years of hard work, growth, and learning. —Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Then, add on volatility due to massive government layoffs, trade tariffs, higher inflationary prices, and fears of a possible recession, and the culmination of all these factors could have a material impact on corporate earnings. —Earl Carr, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for culmination
Recent Examples of Synonyms for culmination
  1. pinnacle
  2. zenith
  3. top
  4. height
  5. peak
  6. climax
  7. apex
Noun
  • The golf tournament also runs alongside the NCAA Tournament Final Four starting Saturday, April 5 in San Antonio where all four No. 1 seeds won Elite Eight games to advance to college basketball’s pinnacle at the Final Four.
    — Jay Ginsbach, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • With big briny flavors, blue cheese, and crushed olives with lemon, this is truly the pinnacle of appetizers and belongs next to any charcuterie board.
    — Erin Hooker, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • Kitamura’s actor, too, has achieved a kind of creative and professional zenith only after renouncing the prospect of such a home, and Xavier’s claim suddenly confronts her with the alternative reality of being a very different kind of character: a mother.
    — Jordan Kisner, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Simon Fisher-Becker, who reached a career zenith in the original Harry Potter film and Doctor Who on television, died on Sunday, March 9.
    — Marc Berman, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • In times of great uncertainty, regions that adapt, innovate and respond smartly to changing times rise to the top.
    — Eric J. Gertler, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Apparently Woody Harrelson originally auditioned for the role of Rick (Walton Goggins took the role in the end) and wanted to renegotiate the salary, taking his negotiations all the way to the top.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of top
Noun
  • The future of women’s boxing is now, and MVP is proud to lead the charge in taking the sport to unprecedented heights.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
  • This change makes the full height of the screen available for displaying photos rather than reserving a bar at the bottom just for buttons.
    — Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of height
Noun
  • Plus, the act of putting a mask on in and of itself feels like peak self-care.
    — Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of peak
Noun
  • Fans believed from Episode One that at least one character would die in a shooting, and, as in Seasons One and Two, each episode slowly (this time, much more slowly) built to the anticipated climax, leaving breadcrumbs both real and sometimes intentionally misleading.
    — Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
  • In Sunday’s stressful Season 3 finale, all the storylines came to a tragic climax, with Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood), Rick (Walton Goggins) and Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn), who was revealed to be Rick’s real father, all dying in a shootout at the resort.
    — Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2025
Definition of climax
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

culminating
culmination
culminations
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Cite this Entry

“Culmination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/culmination. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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