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

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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
These seemingly innocuous incidents attain new significance as they’re revisited alongside a slow crescendo that suddenly turns to shuddering piano chords on the track’s bridge. — Nick Ayres Demasi, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026 His performances that summer reached a crescendo in the knockout stage — netting against Wales in the quarter-finals, bagging a hat-trick in the last four against France and then scoring twice in the final against Sweden. — Will Jeanes, New York Times, 20 June 2026 The World Cup, held every four years, represents a month-long crescendo of a three-year competition among men’s national soccer teams in FIFA. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 19 June 2026 Calls for reparations have increased in recent years, reaching a crescendo with the UN designation in March — though the US, UK and a host of other countries either rejected the claim or abstained from voting on it. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 22 June 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
  • Youngsters romped through the crowd, happily indulging in eggthrowing or dunking-machine antics or trying to climb to the pinnacle of a greased pole, where a $20 bill waited.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2026
  • But decades before industrial America transformed global horology in the latter half of the 19th century, the Founding Fathers lived in a world where mechanical timekeeping represented the pinnacle of craftsmanship, technology, and taste.
    — Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 July 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Verb
  • Then, just a few hours later, the annual Perseid meteor shower will peak under dark, moonless skies.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Both categories peak early—Vitke says the window is roughly 48 hours—after which the discount either disappears or stops deepening.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • But at its zenith, the location attracted the global A-list and fashion crowd, both within its rooms and food and beverage spaces, before the arrival of social media.
    — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 2 July 2026
  • Instead, all of those previous experiments have culminated in Messi's World Cup zenith now.
    — Chris Evans, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • Gaines said the decision felt like the culmination of the last several years of her life, but also a reminder of how far the debate had moved.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • Tuesday’s demonstrations, which were organized in part by the March and March civic organization, were the culmination of protests beginning in April.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 1 July 2026
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • The matter was not on the city’s agenda but was brought on as a walk-on item at the top of the meeting.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
  • On the subsequent rebound, the ball found Kovačić at the top of the box, but his right-footed volley was barely deflected over the net by Diogo Costa.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • In one photo, Kate drapes an arm around George, who is now almost her height (the future king turns 13 later this month).
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Mixing knits with leather creates texture and contrast in the outfit, while the height and simplicity of these solid-color boots helps ground the overall look.
    — Abby Morgan Lebet, Glamour, 6 July 2026
Definition of height
Noun
  • The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity.
    — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
  • Each concert climaxes with Pinkerton’s sword fight against the Rat Reaperess, leading to the singer’s inevitable defeat.
    — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 June 2026
Definition of climax
Noun
  • Sertraline, being lipid-soluble, accumulates in the marine food chain, eventually reaching apex predators like sharks.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Matthews works for Florida Shark Diving, one of several shark charter companies in southeast Florida that promise up-close encounters with some of the state’s apex predators.
    — Kairi Lowery, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of apex

Browse Nearby Words

crepuscules
crescendo
crescendoed
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Cite this Entry

“Crescendo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crescendo. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on crescendo

Nglish: Translation of crescendo for Spanish Speakers

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