Look-alike words
Climactic vs. Climatic
Climactic describes a climax, the most exciting or important point of a story or event. Climatic describes climate, the long-term weather of a place. A film has a climactic scene; a region has climatic conditions.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| climactic | adjective | forming the climax, the most intense or important moment of a story, game or event |
| climatic | adjective | relating to climate, the usual weather patterns of a place over many years |
Climactic
adjective: forming the climax, the most intense or important moment of a story, game or event
- The climactic chase scene was filmed on a frozen lake.
- Everyone stood up during the climactic final minutes of the match.
Climatic
adjective: relating to climate, the usual weather patterns of a place over many years
- Climatic records show that the valley has warmed over the past century.
- Coffee grows best in certain climatic zones near the equator.
How to remember the difference
Climactic has the extra c, as in climax. Climatic starts with c-l-i-m-a-t, exactly like climate.
Good to know
Say them aloud: climactic is klye-MAK-tik, with a k sound before the t, and climatic is klye-MAT-ik. If you hear that k sound, write the extra c.
Spot the mistake
The
climaticclimactic moment of the play came when the twins finally met.Correct: The climactic moment of the play came when the twins finally met.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. Scientists compared data from deserts and rainforests.
Answer: climatic. The data is about long-term weather in different places, so climatic, from climate, fits.
2. The team scored in the final seconds of the game.
Answer: climactic. These are the most exciting seconds of the game, its climax, so climactic fits.