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
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
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
Becky Krystal, Washington Post, 31 May 2022
Adjective
Keeping high-ethylene producers away from climacteric fruits can keep them from ripening too quickly.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2025
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
-
Even with all the gumption in the world, the eponymous Elbow Grease does not win his climactic race.—
Sloane Crosley,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Handshake: Why Johnson, Russell are at odds The forum’s climactic ending saw Russell stand and extend his arm towards Johnson.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The meal was episodic, patterned, refusing the very concept of climax in its devotion to the moment.—
Lauren Groff,
The Atlantic,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Cincinnati Open finals open up the race to be world No. 1 on both tours The climax of the Cincinnati Open is set to shape, if not define, the race for world No. 1 on both the men’s and women’s tours.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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From juggling client showings to closing deals, agents are constantly pulled in multiple directions — often at the cost of personal milestones, family time, or even their own health.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
-
This update comes following a number of other milestones and operational changes that affect veterans' access to housing and benefits.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Mill Creek watershed is home to five different species of crayfish, but the Nashville crayfish is the only one in the state listed under federal protection.—
Stuart Dyos,
Nashville Tennessean,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The land, which sits at the head of the greater Everglades watershed and borders Lake Russell, had previously been eyed for growth.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The industry’s apocalyptic voices are becoming more panicked—and harder to dismiss.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
21 Aug. 2025
-
The Black Death and its aftermath saw a great resurgence of apocalyptic flagellation, with thousands of adherents flogging themselves up and down the Continent (the movement failed to take off in England, which figures).—
Michael Robbins,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Completed in 1912, the Kiruna Church is considered one of Sweden's most important architectural landmarks and was previously voted the country's most beautiful building.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Aug. 2025
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Stray Kids’ Good KARMA Earns 3 Million Sales in a Week Stray Kids’ newest album, KARMA, is closing its first week of release setting some major landmarks.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In addition to garnering widespread critical acclaim, the performance immediately soared across social media, generating tens of millions of views overnight.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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Sitting 5 1/2 games out of the final Wild Card spot with a 64-66 record, the Rangers have floundered at a critical time, losing their past four series while on a 3-11 skid coming into Friday’s game.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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In the years ahead, Starship is set to serve a pivotal role in future U.S. spaceflight.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
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But the basketball legend played a pivotal role in getting Memorial Stadium built In 1920, Allen’s football team, which hadn’t been doing so well, played the vaunted Nebraska Cornhuskers to a tie.—
Randy Mason
August 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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