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anticlimax
[ an-ti-klahy-maks ]
noun
- 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.”
anticlimax
/ ˌæntɪklaɪˈmæktɪk; ˌæntɪˈklaɪmæks /
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
Derived Forms
- anticlimactic, adjective
- ˌԳپˈپ, adverb
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of anticlimax1
Example Sentences
Obviously, another book at this time about exactly the same subject would be a sad anticlimax!
At last to the closing ceremony: It was almost by definition an anticlimax, given that the games were over — if not yet “officially” over — and every race had been run, if only just barely.
Until Friday, at least, the cable news coverage of the first criminal trial of a former president carried a hint of anticlimax.
But in many ways, Trump’s criminal trials are a type of anticlimax.
Eilish and her brother worked “What Was I Made For?” so hard over this awards cycle that the song’s tolling chords almost felt like an anticlimax as O’Connell started into them once again Sunday.
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