climactic
UK: klaɪˈmæktɪk | US: klaɪˈmæktɪk
adj. relating to or constituting a climax (the most intense or decisive point of an event or story).
climactic = climax<peak> + tic<adjective suffix>
- climax (from Greek klimax "ladder, staircase") evolved to mean "peak" or "culmination."
- tic (adjective-forming suffix, often via Latin -ticus or Greek -tikos).
Etymology Origin:
The word climactic traces back to Greek klimax ("ladder"), metaphorically representing progression toward a peak. The suffix -tic (via Latin/Greek) turns it into an adjective, emphasizing its role in describing the pinnacle moment of a narrative or event. The spelling preserves the original climax root, avoiding alterations like climact (a common misspelling confused with climatic).
The climactic battle scene left the audience breathless.
Her speech reached its climactic moment with a call to action.
The film’s climactic twist surprised even seasoned critics.
The symphony’s climactic crescendo was perfectly timed.
The novel builds slowly toward its climactic resolution.