apex

noun

ˈā-ˌpeks How to pronounce apex (audio)
Definition of apexnext
1
as in pinnacle
the highest part or point she reached the apex of fame, only to find it wasn't what she expected

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tip
the last and usually sharp or tapering part of something long and narrow the apex of the spear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun apex differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of apex are acme, climax, culmination, peak, pinnacle, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When might acme be a better fit than apex?

While the synonyms acme and apex are close in meaning, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

Where would climax be a reasonable alternative to apex?

In some situations, the words climax and apex are roughly equivalent. However, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When could culmination be used to replace apex?

The meanings of culmination and apex largely overlap; however, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When is peak a more appropriate choice than apex?

The words peak and apex can be used in similar contexts, but 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 apex?

The synonyms pinnacle and apex are sometimes interchangeable, but pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

When would summit be a good substitute for apex?

The words summit and apex are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 apex At their apex, each presided over a territory of 1.5 million square miles (four million square kilometers) and governed a population of around 60 to 70 million people. —Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025 Simply turn in, hit the accelerator after the apex, and let that capable LSD pull you round. —James Morris, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025 More than just antiques, Ivanhoe is also the apex of arts, science, and theatre. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Mar. 2025 This was possible because of a specific set of circumstances—secure bases, technological superiority, command of the air and the seas—which allowed for a style of unhurried killing that reached its apex with drone strikes. —Colin Jones, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for apex
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apex
  1. pinnacle
  2. tip
  3. zenith
  4. end
  5. top
  6. cusp
  7. height
  8. peak
Noun
  • Leitch was engaged by Rangers on two separate occasions but the red-brick facade on the Main Stand was the pinnacle.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • Major League Baseball is the pinnacle of the sport.
    — Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • Trump’s legislation, at more than 1,100 pages, would permanently extend his 2017 tax cuts set to expire at the end of this year while introducing new policies like tax exemptions for tips and overtime wages.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025
  • Waiters and those who get tips Tips would not be taxed if the bill passes.
    — George Petras, USA Today, 22 May 2025
Definition of tip
Noun
  • The end of this series, and specifically Game 5, feels like their zenith.
    — Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • If dandyism is, at least in part, a kind of showy restraint—being seen on purpose without caring so much about how the spectacle is apprehended by others—this was something like its zenith.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 6 May 2025
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • In the end, all but one Republican voted the bill out of committee—Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who skipped the vote—ending the committee’s debate that began more than 22 hours ago.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 22 May 2025
  • By the end of the video, the two are laughing together.
    — Greta Cross, USA Today, 21 May 2025
Definition of end
Noun
  • The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.
    — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 23 May 2025
  • Lavigne collects her fourth top 10 on the Rock list and her fifth on the alternative ranking.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of top
Noun
  • Unfortunately for me, the cusp of my adulthood was marred by yet another international calamity: the 2008 financial crisis.
    — Lauren Stienstra, Time, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The indexes are right on the cusp of what stands as pretty obvious resistance on the charts.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
Definition of cusp
Noun
  • To prevent the display from looking boring, create visual contrast through elements other than color—just varying the height, size, shape, and texture of the objects will create an eye-catching vignette. 3.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Yet arguably his greatest achievement was to raise the bar of the entire Premier League, pushing rivals like Manchester City to new heights in order for Pep Guardiola’s men to finish above Liverpool.
    — Adam Digby, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Definition of height
Noun
  • This week, several of those beloved songs continue climbing Billboard’s worldwide lists, hitting new peaks and returning to the ears of what must be a massive audience.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Coincidentally, the Fresnel peak is found between 90 and 105 astronomical units.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 19 May 2025
Definition of peak

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Cite this Entry

“Apex.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apex. Accessed 31 May. 2025.

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