climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

klə-

: of, relating to, or constituting a climax

the film's climactic scene

climactically

klī-ˈmak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

klə-

adverb

Synonyms

• apocalyptic
• apocalyptical
• climacteric

Examples of climactic in a Sentence

At the climactic moment, the main character of the novel finds herself face to face with the thief.

the movie's climactic chase scene

Recent Examples on the Web

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

By the second week of December, Lee was finally ready to shoot the climactic scene of Malcolm's assassination. —CBS News, 2 May 2025

Another show might have had Ana hide the fact that she’s gotten into Columbia on a full scholarship, ratcheting up the tension until a climactic blow-up with her family. —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for climactic

• didactic
• galactic
• syntactic
• anaphylactic
• extragalactic
• intergalactic
• stereotactic
• chemotactic
• chiropractic
• isotactic
• prophylactic
• lactic

Kids Definition

climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

klə-

: of, relating to, or being a climax

the movie's climactic scene

Medical Definition

climactic

adjective

cli·​mac·​tic klī-ˈmak-tik 

: of, relating to, or constituting a climax