Definition

A situation or event that is much less exciting or important than what was expected, often following something more impressive.

Example

The movie built up to an exciting climax, but the ending felt like an anticlimax.

Conversation

Did you see the ending of that movie last night?

Yeah, it felt like such an anticlimax after all the buildup.

I know! I was expecting something way more exciting.

Same here, it was a bit of a letdown.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Anticlimax is formed from "anti-" (meaning against) and "climax" (from Greek "klimax", meaning ladder or a series of stages). The term describes a situation that goes against the expected climax, resulting in a disappointing or trivial conclusion instead of a dramatic one.

Memory Tip

Think of 'against' ('anti-') the 'climax' or peak of a story — that's why an anticlimax is a letdown after building up to something exciting.

Visually Confused Words