anticlimax
Buildup without payoff
An anticlimax is a disappointing letdown after a buildup of expectation or tension.
In narrative, it's when events lead toward what seems like a significant moment, only to resolve weakly or trivially: After all that buildup, the ending was a total anticlimax.
The term also describes any situation where reality falls short of anticipation: The concert was an anticlimax after months of excitement.
Failure to satisfy expectations
- underwhelmingFailing to meet expectations
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
- deflationSustained decrease in prices
frustration · bummer · flop · dud · fizzle · comedown · disenchantment · bathos
Deflating descent in tone
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- spoofComic exaggerated imitation
absurdity · farce · lampoon · burlesque · deadpan · timing · punchline · wit
Complete change of direction
- subversionUndermining established authority
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- incongruityLack of harmony
unexpected · contrast · inversion · counterpoint · deflection · undercutting · swerve · pivot
Deflating descent in tone
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- litotesUnderstatement via negation
- descending orderArrangement from greatest downward
tricolon · enumeration · gradation · oratory · persuasion
Story's final unraveling
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- endingFinal portion of something
- conclusionEnd or deduction
buildup · payoff · plot · twist · revelation · tension · suspense · foreshadowing
letdown
Failure to satisfy expectations
- underwhelmingFailing to meet expectations
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- disillusionmentBitter loss of faith
deflation · frustration · bummer · flop · dud · fizzle · comedown · disenchantment · bathos · flatness
bathos
Deflating descent in tone
spoof · absurdity · farce · lampoon · burlesque · deadpan · timing · punchline · wit · sarcasm
turnabout
Complete change of direction
- subversionUndermining established authority
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
incongruity · unexpected · contrast · inversion · counterpoint · deflection · undercutting · swerve · pivot · shift
bathos
Deflating descent in tone
- meiosisGamete-producing cell division
- understatementIntentional diminishment for effect
- litotesUnderstatement via negation
descending order · tricolon · enumeration · gradation · oratory · persuasion
denouement
Story's final unraveling
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- endingFinal portion of something
conclusion · buildup · payoff · plot · twist · revelation · tension · suspense · foreshadowing · storytelling
- comedy tropespratfall, parody, sight gag, running gag, satire
- comedy writingjoke, jokes, comedy, satire, parody
- disappointmentsletdown, flop, dud, fizzle, bust
- letdownsletdown, disappointment, dud, flop, bust
- plotplot, storyline, subplot, narrative, plot twist
- bummersletdown, setback, downer, buzzkill, bad news
anticlimaxclimax
Point of greatest intensity
dramatic climax · culmination · crescendo · payoff · grand finale
- anticlimactic endingResolution that disappoints expectations