apex: M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for August 16 is:

apex \AY-peks\ noun
1 a : the uppermost point : vertex b : the narrowed or pointed end : tip
*2 : the highest or culminating point

Example sentence:
The apex of her athletic career was winning a gold medal at the Olympics.

Did you know?
When you make it to the top (either literally or figuratively), you've reached the "apex" or "summit" or "pinnacle" or "acme," but the exact nature of your perch varies depending upon which of those words you choose. "Apex" implies the point where all ascending lines converge ("the apex of Dutch culture"), while "summit" suggests the topmost level attainable ("the summit of the Victorian social scene"). A "pinnacle" is often a dizzying and insecure height ("the pinnacle of worldly success"), but "acme" carries the sense of reaching a level of quality representing perfection ("a statue that was once deemed the acme of beauty").

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

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