pinnacle

noun

ˈpi-ni-kəl How to pronounce pinnacle (audio)
Definition of pinnaclenext
as in zenith
the highest part or point a singer who has reached the pinnacle of success

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun pinnacle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of pinnacle are acme, apex, climax, culmination, peak, and summit. While all these words mean "the highest point attained or attainable," pinnacle suggests a dizzying and often insecure height.

the pinnacle of worldly success

Where would acme be a reasonable alternative to pinnacle?

Although the words acme and pinnacle have much in common, acme implies a level of quality representing the perfection of a thing.

a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty

When is it sensible to use apex instead of pinnacle?

The meanings of apex and pinnacle largely overlap; however, apex implies the point where all ascending lines converge.

the apex of Dutch culture

When could climax be used to replace pinnacle?

The words climax and pinnacle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, climax implies the highest point in an ascending series.

the war was the climax to a series of hostile actions

When is culmination a more appropriate choice than pinnacle?

In some situations, the words culmination and pinnacle are roughly equivalent. However, culmination suggests the outcome of a growth or development representing an attained objective.

the culmination of years of effort

When might peak be a better fit than pinnacle?

While the synonyms peak and pinnacle are close in meaning, peak suggests the highest among other high points.

an artist working at the peak of her powers

When can summit be used instead of pinnacle?

The words summit and pinnacle can be used in similar contexts, but summit implies the topmost level attainable.

at the summit of the Victorian social scene

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 pinnacle These pinnacles are surrounded by miles of windblown sand and bordered by mesas and buttes. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 21 Apr. 2025 Taking place every two years, the tournament represents the pinnacle of competition in Europe. —Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 But one of the biggest joys is sharing this pinnacle moment with my mom, the woman who has always been my champion, and my inspiration. —Marie Bostwick, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Many recalled his legacy as the first pope from Latin America, and the first Jesuit to reach the pinnacle of church hierarchy, one who stressed humility over hubris for a church beset with scandal and indifference. —Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pinnacle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinnacle
  1. zenith
  2. top
  3. peak
  4. culmination
  5. height
  6. apex
Noun
  • The 2012 Olympics were Campbell’s zenith but an eight-year professional career brought a further 20 wins from 24 fights and lightweight world-title contests against Jorge Linares and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • At that point Jupiter is just visible in the west, about 32 degrees above the horizon (this is about a third of the way up to the zenith).
    — Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • Patricia was looking forward to her mother climbing to the top of the 750-foot Diamond Head, but her then-72-year-old mom felt daunted by the challenging ascent and opted to stay at the base.
    — Maquita Peters, NPR, 11 May 2025
  • Family Firms Lead, Still Family enterprises are quietly outpacing their public peers in gender diversity at the top.
    — Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Definition of top
Noun
  • As Pluto retrogrades in Aquarius, the potential for shocking revelations is at its peak.
    — Valerie Mesa, People.com, 3 May 2025
  • Shares have cooled off in 2025 but are still up a few percentage points since the Feb. 19 market peak.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025
Definition of peak
Noun
  • The Wolves’ 103-96 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday was the culmination of a trend that crushed the Lakers all series.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
  • Her latest project, Welcome, Mac, to the Family by Ruddiman, is the culmination of two years of experimentation, iteration, and storytelling.
    — Kaitlyn Gomez, USA Today, 1 May 2025
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • Thanks to the chunky heel and platform, these shoes will give you some height while still being easy to walk in.
    — Genevieve Cepeda, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2025
  • At their height under Postecoglou in his debut season, their PPDA was 6.24.
    — Elias Burke, New York Times, 8 May 2025
Definition of height
Noun
  • At their apex, each presided over a territory of 1.5 million square miles (four million square kilometers) and governed a population of around 60 to 70 million people.
    — Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Simply turn in, hit the accelerator after the apex, and let that capable LSD pull you round.
    — James Morris, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Definition of apex

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Pinnacle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinnacle. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pinnacle

Nglish: Translation of pinnacle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pinnacle

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