climactic
gb/klaɪmˈæktɪk/ us/klaɪmˈæktɪk/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
forming the most exciting point
The most exciting or important part.
Usage pattern:
[climactic] [moment/scene/ending/final/battle/point]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse climactic (about a climax in a story/event) with climatic (about climate and weather).
Synonyms
culminating (Emphasizes being the final and highest point in a process.)
|
pivotal (Emphasizes importance for what happens next.)
|
dramatic (Emphasizes excitement and strong feeling, not necessarily the highest point.)
Antonyms
anticlimactic (Disappointing after building expectation; not matching the expected climax.)
|
minor (Not very important or intense.)
Collocations
climactic moment
|climactic scene
|climactic ending
|climactic finale
|climactic conclusion
|climactic battle
|climactic showdown
|climactic twist
|climactic sequence
|climactic point
Themes
arts_and_media
|storytelling
Examples
- The climactic scene takes place on the rooftop during a thunderstorm.
- In the climactic final minutes of the match, both teams scored twice.
- The novel builds slowly to a climactic confrontation between the sisters.
Learner examples
- The movie has a climactic ending.
- The climactic moment was very exciting.
adjective
formal
C2
property
2
relating to sexual climax
Related to orgasm.
Usage pattern:
[climactic] [experience/response/pleasure]
Common mistake:
This meaning is more formal/clinical; in everyday conversation people often avoid it or use different words.
Synonyms
orgasmic (More direct and explicit; often less formal.)
Antonyms
nonorgasmic (Not involving orgasm.)
Collocations
climactic experience
|climactic response
|climactic pleasure
|climactic sensation
Themes
health
|relationships
Examples
- The therapist asked whether she was able to reach a climactic response.
- The book discusses climactic sensations in clinical terms.
Grammar
Dictionary form
climactic
IPA
GB/klaɪmˈæktɪk/
US/klaɪmˈæktɪk/
Syllables & stress
cli - mactic (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (mactic)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: climactic
Word family
Core family
climax
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
anticlimax
noun
anticlimactic
adjective C1
Advanced or less common
climactically
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.