anticlimax
Americannoun
-
an event, conclusion, statement, etc., that is far less important, powerful, or striking than expected.
-
a descent in power, quality, dignity, etc.; a disappointing, weak, or inglorious conclusion.
After serving as president, he may find life in retirement an anticlimax.
-
a noticeable or ludicrous descent from lofty ideas or expressions to banalities or commonplace remarks.
We were amused by the anticlimax of the company's motto: “For God, for country, and for Acme Gasworks.”
noun
-
a disappointing or ineffective conclusion to a series of events, etc
-
a sudden change from a serious subject to one that is disappointing or ludicrous
-
rhetoric a descent in discourse from the significant or important to the trivial, inconsequential, etc
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of anticlimax
Explanation
If you think you’re approaching the high point, but then realize it’s really the low point, that’s an anticlimax — a moment when excitement quickly changes to disappointment. In a movie or book, a climax is the point where, after a long buildup, everything gets really intense and dramatic. But if there’s a lot of buildup and then suddenly something really boring happens, that’s an anticlimax. Like waiting all day to see fireworks, but then nobody has any matches. It can also mean discussing something important like war or art, and then someone interrupts to talk about candy. Talk about a letdown.
Vocabulary lists containing anticlimax
Power Prefix: 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!
Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Advanced
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!
Reading: Literature - Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - High School
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.
There have been mixed reviews of the concert with Pulp guitarist Mark Webber telling BBC 6 Music describing the show as "a slight anticlimax".
From BBC • Apr. 12, 2025
Obviously, another book at this time about exactly the same subject would be a sad anticlimax!
From Salon • Oct. 15, 2024
In Bluff, the sun rose on an anticlimax.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2023
And a final 10-game stretch against their closest rivals, keenly anticipated for weeks, turned into a massive anticlimax.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2023
We had hiked twenty-two miles in two days—a highly respectable distance for us—but a distinct listlessness and sense of anticlimax, a kind of midmountain lassitude, had set in.
From "A Walk in the Woods" 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.
