crescendo 1 of 2

noun

krə-ˈshen-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce crescendo (audio)
Definition of crescendonext
as in pinnacle
the highest part or point excitement in the auditorium slowly built up and reached its crescendo when the star walked on stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

crescendo

2 of 2

verb

as in to peak

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of crescendo
Noun
Those conversations reached a crescendo as Chu, an old friend of Chen’s, prepared to release Crazy Rich Asians, Hollywood’s first studio film in 25 years with a majority Asian cast. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026 As the strings quiver like a James Bond crescendo, the song gets stereophonic, like we’re being blasted deeper into the cushions of a conversation pit. — Linnie Greene, Pitchfork, 29 July 2026 As the days wore on, the crowds swelled, reaching a crescendo on July 20, after the Modi government forcibly removed Wanghuck from the protest site on the 21st day of his hunger strike. — Yamini Aiyar, Time, 29 July 2026 Finally, the music reached a crescendo as the crane started to pull something from the water. — Lauren Oyler, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crescendo
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crescendo
  1. pinnacle
  2. peak
  3. zenith
  4. culmination
  5. top
  6. height
  7. climax
  8. apex
Noun
  • By Christmas it had been canonized as the pinnacle of ‘sad girl lit’ with Martha taking her place in that post-Fleabag lineage of fractured female characters.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Researchers told me that many Democrats believe that the pinnacle of achievement is having a good education and a fruitful career.
    — Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • There’s no one way to accurately predict which diseases will peak in Boise-area schools and when.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In spring, when rhododendron flowers peak, the bees forage heavily on their blooms.
    — Prayan Pokharel, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • Around the time the body was disposed of, Lake Mead was nearing its zenith.
    — Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Despite Villa reaching their zenith under Emery in May, there was a growing argument to undergo a stable transitional phase, providing youthful impetus and appearing proactive, rather than reactive, in lowering the age of the squad.
    — Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • At the culmination, the man will make a proposal to the winning potential partner.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Far from an electoral anomaly, the rise of Bhumjaithai is the culmination of a long effort by conservatives to retake the levers of power.
    — Duncan McCargo, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • Anna and Jude end up in the top, and Jude scores his third win.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Pinning down Pinhead One film has been at the top of the wish list of Horror Nights honchos for more than 10 years, Sauls said.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • Towering waves generated by intense Pacific storm systems, their heights amplified by El Niño, could erode parts of the fragile coastline and shut down crucial coastal transportation arteries.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But what truly took the event to new heights was the way the ladies from the other franchises reacted to being on Kyle’s turf.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of height
Noun
  • His frantic paranoia makes the scene genuinely hard to read and sets the stage for his horrifying actions during the climax.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Ross doesn’t tend towards punch-the-air climaxes—just warm, excitable builds.
    — Shaad D’Souza, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of climax
Noun
  • Tottenham were outfought and outplayed by a Brentford side who, after an outstanding season last year, may have hit a new apex.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Beyond the bravado of going as fast as possible, Macleod teaches precision, beginning with how brake pressure shifts a car’s weight and sets up a corner long before the apex.
    — Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of apex

Browse Nearby Words

crepuscules
crescendo
crescendoed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crescendo. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gumption

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All