CLIMACTERIC Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

climacteric 1 of 2

adjective

klī-ˈmak-t(ə-)rik

Definition of climacteric

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

climacteric

2 of 2

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

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 climacteric

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

That was our climactic sort of reveal at the very end of that one.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026
Mundy pointed out action scenes in previous episodes provided plenty of pyrotechnics, including a climactic brawl between Hal and John in Episode 5.

— Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of climactic

Noun

The climax of Lukas Moodysson’s A Hole in My Heart (2004), where Geko vomits into Tess’s open mouth?

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Few scenes articulate that difference in social standing better than the ball that takes place at the climax of the film.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of climax

Adjective

The filmmaker made his fiction debut in 2024 with The End, a post-apocalyptic musical thriller starring Tilda Swinton, Michael Shannon, and George MacKay.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
In the new apocalyptic Swedish comedy The Storm, Filip invites his closest friends to his new mountain estate for his 45th birthday celebration.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of apocalyptic

Noun

Other manufacturers have reported hourly production targets, weekly output figures, and cumulative production milestones.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
This is a milestone season for Abbott Elementary, which will hit its 100th episode around the fall finale.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of milestone

Adjective

The critical need for a crisis communications plan, regardless of the size of your business.

— Janelle Ash , Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
If a critical variable exceeds an allowable limit, the safety function overrides the control system regardless of why the controller made its decision.

— Gregory Shahnovsky, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of critical

Noun

But funding to pump water from a separate watershed into Rattlesnake Creek was approved in 2025 through spending legislation that Marshall supported.

— Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 16 Oct. 2026
Instead, much of the city's water originates in mountain watersheds, where winter storms build the snowpack that eventually melts into streams, rivers and reservoirs.

— Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of watershed

Adjective

Castillo flashed a big smile Friday after playing a pivotal role in Yorkville’s 21-7 win at home over Oswego East.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Tagovailoa threw the game-ending interception, leaving Penix’s status for a pivotal Week 6 meeting with the Chicago Bears uncertain.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of pivotal

Noun

A couple of Frisco landmarks appear in the teaser like the city’s water tower and the Sandman Signature Plano-Frisco Hotel.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
The Fifth Avenue hotel, which has stood for more than 119 years, will close for at least four years beginning next January to restore the 18-story building's landmark facade, according to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the operator of the Plaza.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of landmark

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cliffs

climacteric

climacterics

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“Climacteric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/climacteric. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of climacteric

adjective

noun

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