Climax
Story's highest point
Climax is the point of greatest intensity or highest tension—the peak moment toward which everything builds.
In narrative, the climax is where conflict reaches its crisis: The climax of the film comes when she finally confronts her father.
In sex, climax means orgasm.
To climax is to reach such a peak: The evening climaxed with fireworks over the harbor.
Utmost height attained
- culminationHighest or final point
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- denouementStory's final unraveling
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
resolution · finale · crescendo · payoff · dramatic tension · plot twist · confrontation · revelation
Utmost height attained
- intensityStrength or force level
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
tears · outburst · crescendo · tension · release · confrontation · meltdown · eruption
Peak sexual pleasure
- pleasureHappy, satisfied feeling
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- ecstasyOverwhelming intense delight
- releaseTo let go
intimacy · sensation · foreplay · stimulation · consummation · erogenous · tantric · peak
Collective of connected people
- successionFollowing in order
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- biodiversityRange of life forms
stability · vegetation · mature · equilibrium · habitat · old-growth · biome · dominant species
Incremental transition between stages
- ascendingMoving upward
- emphasisStress given to something
- repetitionAct of redoing
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
progression · escalation · intensification · tricolon · anaphora · persuasion · oratory · Cicero
peak
Utmost height attained
- culminationHighest or final point
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- denouementStory's final unraveling
turning point · resolution · finale · crescendo · payoff · dramatic tension · plot twist · confrontation · revelation · catharsis
peak
Utmost height attained
- intensityStrength or force level
- breakthroughSudden important advance
- catharsisPurification through emotional expression
overwhelm · tears · outburst · crescendo · tension · release · confrontation · meltdown · eruption · breaking point
orgasm
Peak sexual pleasure
- pleasureHappy, satisfied feeling
- arousalStirring to heightened state
- ecstasyOverwhelming intense delight
release · intimacy · sensation · foreplay · stimulation · consummation · erogenous · tantric · peak · satisfaction
community
Collective of connected people
- successionFollowing in order
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
biodiversity · stability · vegetation · mature · equilibrium · habitat · old-growth · biome · dominant species · development
gradation
Incremental transition between stages
- ascendingMoving upward
- emphasisStress given to something
- repetitionAct of redoing
amplification · progression · escalation · intensification · tricolon · anaphora · persuasion · oratory · Cicero · arrangement
- Funny TownsNothing, Eek
- locomotiveslocomotive, steam locomotive, diesel locomotive, electric locomotive, engine
- steam locomotivessteam engines, steam engine, boiler, firebox, steam trains
- Red River RegionRed River, Fargo, Grand Forks, Winnipeg, Breckenridge
- Battle Creek
- CountiesCork, Dublin, Kerry, Galway, Mayo
Climaxanticlimax
Disappointing conclusion after buildup
denouement · exposition · falling action · resolution · introduction
- dramatic climaxStory's decisive turning point
- emotional climaxPeak intensity of feeling
climactic, climactically, anticlimax, anticlimactic, anticlimactically, climaxes, climaxed, climaxing