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
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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
-
Image What American and European fans of Mr. Trump see as a climactic battle between left and right is seen by many young Polish voters as an infuriating rerun of a decades-old struggle.—
Andrew Higgins,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
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The entire series builds to the climactic moment in that live show where Deborah walks away.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Noun
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The Dial of Destiny, the utterly amazing climax of Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
10 June 2025
-
That represents a huge decline from 2008, the climax of the Barack Obama coalition, when the Democratic candidate won 62% of the young male vote against GOP challenger John McCain.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
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Kansas City Chiefs rookie left tackle Josh Simmons continues to exceed expectations in his return from a knee injury while also hitting a milestone Wednesday.—
Jesse Newell,
Kansas City Star,
5 June 2025
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To celebrate the milestone, Florida Citrus Sports plans a year-long celebration culminating in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 3 p.m., airing on ABC.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Small rivers in the upper watershed rose quickly, some cresting at historic levels, and have already come back down.—
Amy Graff,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
-
What to Know California's snowpack peaked at 100 percent of seasonal average on April 4 and is now melting into watersheds.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 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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In addition to Clooney, who plays Murrow in the stage production, Good Night, and Good Luck features a stellar cast portraying the real-life people behind the landmark broadcast.—
Emily Blackwood,
People.com,
7 June 2025
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How college sports are preparing for ‘seismic change,’ including revenue sharing and new roster limits College athletic directors, including at Northwestern and Northern Illinois, have decisions to make on revenue sharing, roster limits and more as a landmark settlement heads to final approval.—
Eddie Pells,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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The lads were famously bowled over by an early listen, but the record Wilson poured his time into wasn’t an immediate critical or chart success back at home.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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The project received the worst critical and fan reviews of any Trek title (even a tad lower than 1989’s notorious Star Trek V: The Final Frontier).—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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At a venue like Winged Foot, similar length proved pivotal in Bryson DeChambeau’s 2020 victory, an encouraging precedent for James.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2025
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The Yankees’ catcher played a pivotal part in the series opener as well, as Wells hit a three-run homer and totaled five RBI in Tuesday’s game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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