The audience sobbed throughout the climax of the movie.
Source: tatoeba (20940)
Climax
/ˈklaɪ.mæks/
Synonyms for "climax" (268 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (54)
achieve satisfactionacmeacme of perfectionact of loveadulteryallapexaphrodisiaapogeeapoplexyassballingbench markbitter endbreakupbrowbutton upcall it a daycapcapstone
Show 27 more words
cardinal pointcarnal knowledgecarry to completioncataclysmcatastropheceilingchief thingclean upcloseclose outclose upcloud ninecohabitationcoitioncoituscoitus interruptuscomecommercecompletecompletionconcludeconclusioncongressconnectionconsummateconsummationcontent
Strong matches (80)
convulsioncopestonecopulacopulationcorecornerstonecouplingcrescendocrestcrisiscritical pointcrossroadscrowncruxculmenculminateculminationdenouementdiastrophismdiddling
Show 46 more words
disasterearthquakeedgeejaculateendend resultessenceessentialessential matterextremeextreme limitextremityfigure of speechfinal resultfinal strokefinal touchfinalefinalizefinishfinish offfinish upfinisherfinishing strokefitfornicationfrostfundamentalgerm cellget doneget it overget offget throughget through withgistgravamengreat pointheadheartheavenheavensheighthigh noonhigh pointhighest degreehighest pitchhighest point
Verb(4 words)
Adjective(1 words)
dramatic turn of events
Related words (134)
iceimportant thingintercourseintimacyissuekernelkeystonelandmarklast actlast strokelast touchlast wordlimitlovemakingmain pointmain thingmaking it withmalapropismmarital relationsmarriage act
Show 101 more words
material pointmatingmaximummeatmergingmeridianmetaphormilestonemop upmountaintopname of the gamene plus ultrano place highernoonnth degreenubonanismorgasmouttopoverarchoverthrowovertopovumpareuniaparoxysmpayoffpeakperfectperfectionpinkpink of perfectionpinnaclepitchpithpivotpleasepointpoleprocreationquakereach orgasmreal issuerelationsridgeround outsalient pointsatisfyscrewingseventh heavensexsex actsexual climaxsexual commercesexual congresssexual intercoursesexual relationssexual unionshowdownsimilesine qua nonskysleeping withspasmspeechspermspirestrokesubstancesubstantive pointsummitsurmounttemblorterminateterminationthe bottom linethe pointthe wholetidal wavetiptip toptip-toptoptop offtop outtsunamiturning pointultimateupheavalupmostupper extremityuppermostupshotutmostutmost extentuttermostveneryvertexvery topwind upwrap upzenith
Adjective(1 words)
key scene
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: apex, culmination, achieve satisfaction, acme, acme of perfection.
- Sentence evidence is available for climax, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, wordnet, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "climax".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "climax"
Keep "climax" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "climax" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "climax", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "climax" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesShowing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
5 entriesCollocations
10 entriesbuild to a climaxclimactic momentdramatic climaxfinal climaxnarrative climaxplot climaxreach a climaxstory climaxstorytelling climaxthe climax of the story
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
24 total sentences available.
The game came to a climax.
Source: tatoeba (263536)
All voices were extinguished in the climax.
Source: tatoeba (1135712)
Mary did not climax when she and Tom had their first sexual intercourse.
Source: tatoeba (4661226)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "climax"?
Closest matches include apex, culmination, achieve satisfaction, acme, acme of perfection.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "climax"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.