SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
climax
noun
The highest or most intense point in a sequence, especially in a story.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Highest point of development
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topA turning point changes direction; a climax reaches maximum tension or intensity. Crescendo can mean a climactic peak in general writing, while its musical sense usually names a gradual increase in volume.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See climax in use
The discovery of the hidden letter forms the climax of the novel.
One reader confused the antecedent with the climax, treating the missed train as the story's most intense moment simply because it occurred first. Another still found the letter an enigma after the travelers recognized their matching pages, since nobody had explained who separated them. Jo revised the closing exchange so that the recognition remained the emotional high point while a few added details clarified the mystery. The workshop distinguished an event's place in the sequence from its role in creating intensity or understanding.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
- WordNet 3.0: selected lexical senses
- Merriam-Webster, Crescendo
- American Heritage Dictionary, Crescendo
- CLIMAX Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license