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Definitions

apical

[ey-pi-kuhl, ap-i-] / ˈeɪ pɪ kəl, ˈæp ɪ- /
ADJECTIVE
gnawing
Synonyms
STRONG
acuminate barbed edged fine honed horned jagged keen peaked piercing pointed
WEAK
aciculate acuate acuminous acute briery cuspate cuspidate ground fine keen-edged knife-edged knifelike lancinating needle-pointed needlelike poin
Antonyms
STRONG
blunt dull
ADJECTIVE
highest
Synonyms
WEAK
best capital chief crown head maximal maximum most paramount preeminent principal superlative supreme tiptop top top-notch uppermost zenithal
ADJECTIVE
knifelike
Synonyms
WEAK
aciculate acuate acuminate acuminous acute barbed briery cuspate cuspidate edged fine gnawing ground fine honed horned jagged keen keen-edged knife-edged lancinating needle-pointed needlelike peaked piercing pointed pointy prickly pronged razor-sharp salient serrated sharp-edged sharpened shooting spiked spiky spiny splintery stabbing stinging tapered tapering thorny tined tipped unblunted whetted
ADJECTIVE
lancinating
Synonyms
WEAK
aciculate acuate acuminate acuminous acute barbed briery cuspate cuspidate edged fine gnawing ground fine honed horned jagged keen keen-edged knife-edged knifelike needle-pointed needlelike peaked piercing pointed pointy prickly pronged razor-sharp salient serrated sharp-edged sharpened shooting spiked spiky spiny splintery stabbing stinging tapered tapering thorny tined tipped unblunted whetted
ADJECTIVE
loftiest
Synonyms
WEAK
capital chief crack crowning culminating dominant elite excellent fine finest first first-class first-rate five-star foremost greatest head highest lead leading maximal maximum outside paramount preeminent primary prime principal ruling sovereign superior supreme tiptop top-drawer top-notch topmost upmost upper uppermost
ADJECTIVE
sharp
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acute pointed razor-sharp sharpened stinging
STRONG
fine keen salient tapering
WEAK
aciculate acuate acuminate acuminous barbed briery cuspate cuspidate edged ground fine honed horned jagged keen-edged knife-edged needle-pointed needlelike peaked pointy prickly pronged serrated sharp-edged spiked spiky spiny splintery tapered thorny tined tipped unblunted whetted
Antonyms
STRONGEST
blunt dull
ADJECTIVE
stabbing
Synonyms
STRONG
acuminate barbed edged fine gnawing honed horned jagged keen peaked piercing pointed serrated sharpened shooting spiked stinging tapered tapering tined tipped whetted
WEAK
aciculate acuate acuminous acute briery cuspate cuspidate ground fine keen-edged knife-edged knifelike lancinating needle-pointed needlelike pointy prickly pronged razor-sharp salient sharp-edged spiky spiny splintery thorny unblunted
Antonyms
STRONG
blunt dull smooth
ADJECTIVE
tiptop
Synonyms
WEAK
highest supreme uppermost
Antonyms
STRONG
bottom bottommost lowest
ADJECTIVE
top
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dominant elite excellent finest leading preeminent primary principal
STRONG
capital chief crack crowning culminating fine first head lead maximum outside prime ruling sovereign superior tiptop upper
WEAK
first-class first-rate five-star foremost greatest loftiest maximal paramount supreme top-drawer top-notch topmost uppermost
Antonyms
STRONGEST
inferior poor secondary subordinate unimportant
STRONG
below least lower minor submissive
WEAK
low lowest second-rate
ADJECTIVE
topmost
Synonyms
WEAK
capital chief crack crowning culminating dominant elite excellent fine finest first first-class first-rate five-star foremost greatest head highest lead leading loftiest maximal maximum outside paramount preeminent primary prime principal ruling sovereign superior supreme tiptop top-drawer top-notch upmost upper uppermost
ADJECTIVE
uppermost
Synonyms
WEAK
culminating highest loftiest most elevated topmost upmost
Antonyms
WEAK
bottom lower lowest trivial

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The number of apical progenitor cells, which are essential for building the cerebral cortex, was significantly lower.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

This orientation ensures that cellular components are evenly shared and that two new apical progenitor cells are produced.

From Science Daily • Dec. 17, 2025

They wanted to know if the distal apical dendrites processed visual stimuli differently from their cell bodies when the signals both matched and violated expected patterns.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2023

The apical complex is located at the narrow end.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

It is closed except at the apex, and contains the female spikelet, the stalks of the male inflorescence and the long styles emerging through the small apical orifice.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 3 "Gordon, Lord George" to "Grasses" by Various