acme

noun

ˈak-mē How to pronounce acme (audio)
Definition of acmenext
1
as in pinnacle
the highest part or point the acme of their basketball season was their hard-won victory over last year's state champs

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in apotheosis
the most perfect type or example a movie that has come to be regarded as the acme of the Hollywood musical

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun acme differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of acme are apex, climax, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When could apex be used to replace acme?

While the synonyms apex and acme are close in meaning, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When is climax a more appropriate choice than acme?

The words climax and acme 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 it sensible to use culmination instead of acme?

The synonyms culmination and acme are sometimes interchangeable, but culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

Where would peak be a reasonable alternative to acme?

While in some cases nearly identical to acme, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

In what contexts can pinnacle take the place of acme?

The meanings of pinnacle and acme largely overlap; however, pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When might summit be a better fit than acme?

In some situations, the words summit and acme are roughly equivalent. However, 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 acme By 1998, when Lewis H. Lapham filed two reports on the WEF for this magazine, globalization and its political sister, Third Way politics, were at their acme. — Caitlín Doherty, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025 The sentence on Cafe Kestrel’s menu is the battle cry of the heroic rabbit Bigwig, shouted in righteous rage at the leader of the enemy tribe of rabbits, at the acme of the story’s great climactic battle. — Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2024 The Dior headquarters on the Avenue Montaigne, where the house’s presentations unfolded, were a polished foil to his clothes: gray rooms that were the acme of Belle Époque chic. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acme
  1. pinnacle
  2. apotheosis
  3. zenith
  4. perfection
  5. height
  6. classic
  7. top
  8. ideal
Noun
  • Traditionally, family offices have long been seen as the pinnacle of private investment sophistication—highly sophisticated institutional level investors, dedicated to single or small groups of ultra-high-net-worth families to manage their fortunes across generations.
    — Francois Botha, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The hypocrisy of clutching pearls when whites committed 'cultural appropriation,' and then celebrating Black and Hispanic Founding Fathers is the pinnacle of absurdity!
    — Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • To some, Meghan cheering on Waters’ rosemary-hugging could been seen as the apotheosis of West Coast foodie pretentiousness, if the chef didn’t appear so sincere in her affections.
    — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2025
  • So, for that matter, is the recognizable Tim Horton’s Donut Shop sign written out in Farsi — a visual joke that doubles as the apotheosis of Rankin’s cross-cultural exchange program.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of apotheosis
Noun
  • Dimash’s Parisian debut reached its zenith on November 5th, with an invitation to perform at a closed-door event hosted at the Élysée Palace, Dimash delivered a performance that seamlessly blended emotional depth and entertainment.
    — SPIN Contributor, SPIN, 17 Feb. 2025
  • The era of Peak TV, characterized by an abundance of high-end fiction content, has reached its zenith.
    — Jamie Lang, Variety, 17 Feb. 2025
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • Add a cherry to the center of each pineapple ring for party perfection.
    — Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Lou breaks apart the veneer of narrative perfection, in order to show where the power lies.
    — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of perfection
Noun
  • The stand aside, this monitor has ample tilt, height, and swivel adjustments at the ready.
    — PCMAG, PCMAG, 9 Mar. 2025
  • The structure of its web varies throughout the year, with changes in its angle, height above the ground, line density and magnetic orientation, all influenced by seasonal shifts.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of height
Noun
  • The brand’s timeless styles and classic, English aesthetic fit perfectly into the world of Hill House.
    — Emily Mercer, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Sip on the Pineapple Suite, a tropical nod to Season 1; The Lotus, a sophisticated tribute to Taormina’s allure; Coconut Paradise, a taste of Koh Samui’s dreamy shores; or The White Lotus Gimlet, an elevated take on a classic with coconut lotus syrup.
    — Jenn Rice, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of classic
Noun
  • Encouraging managers to take action on department-specific feedback prevents issues from piling up at the top and makes solutions feel more personal and effective.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Isabel Marant brought a New Wave edge to men’s and women’s denim, mixing mini wrap skirts and vests with red tartan tops.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of top
Noun
  • At Trinity College, our Bantams compete in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC), embodying the true scholar-athlete ideal.
    — Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Their commitment to bearing witness under extraordinary circumstances represents the highest ideals of our profession.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of ideal

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Cite this Entry

“Acme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acme. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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