anticlimactic
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anticlimactic
Explanation
When something seems like it's going to be exciting but then it lets you down, that's anticlimactic. An anticlimactic fireworks display would be brief and boring, with subdued pops of muted sparkles. The Greek root of anticlimactic means "down a ladder," and that's exactly how it feels to experience something anticlimactic, as if you expected to go higher but you're suddenly near the bottom of the ladder. In a scary movie, as the hero moves closer to the creepy basement door while terrifying music plays, it will be a bit anticlimactic if the door swings open to reveal a mewing kitten.
Vocabulary lists containing anticlimactic
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Prefixes: ant-, anti-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Nickel and Dimed
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ant, anti
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the night's only anticlimactic moment came with the reveal of the 'exclusive song' - a unique track Bad Bunny is adding to the set for each city.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026
And what about the potentially anticlimactic matter that enslaved people in Texas may already have known they were free, if only technically?
From Salon • Jun. 19, 2026
Though Powell took pains to discuss the central bank’s independence and other big-picture topics, the end to his Fed term seemed fairly anticlimactic.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
Unlike the dramatic muscle work that had come before, this was neutral, a bit anticlimactic.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
Compared with Thomas Midgley’s colorful contributions to the march of progress, Patterson’s discovery of the age of the Earth feels more than a touch anticlimactic.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
