1
as in milestones
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs
the climax of the story occurs when the hero discovers the identity of his father
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in culminations
the highest part or point
the climax of her career as a performer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in culminates
to bring to a triumphant conclusion
organizers climaxed the county fair with a down and dirty pie-eating contest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of climaxes
Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The band has never sounded this melodic before; Wroth in particular brings a constant dynamism to his guitar solos, often layering two and reaching climaxes that refuse to collapse into just a flurry of notes, building off Phantom Slaughter’s keyboard melodies with a real sense of drama.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
There was plenty of raw energy in climaxes, sometimes too much for so supportive and reinforcing an acoustic as the Meyerson Symphony Center’s.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Joaquin Temes As Argentina's midterm electoral campaign reaches its second and third climaxes, the number of scandalous corruption accusations aimed at the highest echelons of national politics is surging.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s a reason the picture has that title, in other words, and that idea finds a more direct correlation in the finale, which gives us one of the more grotesquely funny climaxes in recent horror.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
Anderson is here for the melodrama, the special lessons and the climaxes that fall flat.
—Jessica Lipsky, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The band has never sounded this melodic before; Wroth in particular brings a constant dynamism to his guitar solos, often layering two and reaching climaxes that refuse to collapse into just a flurry of notes, building off Phantom Slaughter’s keyboard melodies with a real sense of drama.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 17 Feb. 2026
There was plenty of raw energy in climaxes, sometimes too much for so supportive and reinforcing an acoustic as the Meyerson Symphony Center’s.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026
Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.
—Isaac Butler, The Atlantic, 3 Nov. 2025
Audition is a slow burn, spending the better part of two hours setting up audiences for arguably one of the most graphic climaxes in horror history.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Joaquin Temes As Argentina's midterm electoral campaign reaches its second and third climaxes, the number of scandalous corruption accusations aimed at the highest echelons of national politics is surging.
—Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There’s a reason the picture has that title, in other words, and that idea finds a more direct correlation in the finale, which gives us one of the more grotesquely funny climaxes in recent horror.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
The film climaxes with a triumphant visit by the musicians, some in their 90s, to New York’s Carnegie Hall.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for climaxes
Noun
-
Your athletic endeavors are now about maintenance, not milestones.—
Zach Przystup,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The couple has included their children in several of the pregnancy milestones, including a visit to the doctor for Whitney's 20-week ultrasound.—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Full moons are culminations — don’t forget to pause and see what’s already come full circle before rushing into more.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The play culminates in the first battle of Saint Albans.—
Gitanjali Roy,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The Route This Amtrak line runs in both directions between Charlotte and Raleigh, but Dambo’s scavenger hunt culminates near Raleigh—so starting in Charlotte makes the most sense.—
Elliott Harrell,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Improvements began after policymakers recognized the mountains as vital watersheds for neighboring communities.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Each year, Heal the Bay collects trash from beaches and watersheds across Los Angeles County with the help of thousands of volunteers.—
CBS LA Staff,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Still, the pinnacles of the heartland-rock canon continue to thrill us in unexpected ways.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Macky Sall, the former president of Senegal, is among those in line to replace Antonio Guterres, whose term finishes at the end of the year.—
Peter Martin,
Bloomberg,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Honor also had robots secure the second and third place finishes in the race.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As part of the celebrations of Gold100, landmarks will light up in Gold Lights.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
1 May 2026
-
The experience is often paired with a K-pop city tour of Seoul, stopping at landmarks like the KBS building and other historic broadcasting stations that have launched countless careers in the genre.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to Beale’s website, the Gardner campus would be set back from existing infrastructure by more than 100 feet and building heights would comply with the city’s 60-foot limit.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
30 Apr. 2026
-
For the Knicks to reach heights unseen in more than 50 years, Towns will need to continue playing the kind of defense he’s proven capable of during this playoff stretch.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Climaxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climaxes. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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