1. a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events
2. a deliberate drop from the dignified or important to the trivial or commonplace for humorous effect
Usage: literary; rhetoric

Examples

• After all the buildup, the movie’s ending was a real anticlimax.
• The championship game turned out to be an anticlimax when the star player was injured early.
• His speech was full of anticlimax, moving from grand promises to complaints about parking.
• The fireworks display felt like an anticlimax after the amazing concert.
• The mystery novel’s solution was such an anticlimax that readers felt cheated.
• The comedian used anticlimax effectively, following serious topics with silly observations.