a-c-m-e
ACME means the peak, pinnacle, or highest point of something. From business excellence to mountain summits, ACME represents the ultimate achievement or perfection.
8
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
ACME represents the highest point, peak, or pinnacle of something—the ultimate degree of perfection or achievement. When something reaches its acme, it has attained the maximum level of excellence, quality, or development. This word captures the essence of supreme accomplishment. In ancient Greek, akme (ἀκμή) literally meant "point" or "edge," particularly the sharp point of a weapon. The Greeks used it metaphorically to describe the peak of anything—the acme of one's life, career, or civilization. A warrior at his acme possessed maximum strength and skill. A city at its acme enjoyed greatest prosperity and influence.Modern usage encompasses:
The word acme comes directly from ancient Greek ἀκμή (akmē), meaning "point, edge, or peak." The root relates to ἀκή (akē), meaning "point," sharing origins with words like "acute" (sharp) and "acrid" (sharp-tasting). The word entered English in the late 16th century through Renaissance scholars who studied Greek texts. They adopted "acme" to describe the culmination or highest point of something, particularly in medical contexts where Greek terminology dominated. Physicians spoke of diseases reaching their "acme"—the crisis point before recovery or decline. By the 18th century, "acme" expanded beyond medical usage to describe any peak or pinnacle. The Industrial Revolution popularized it further when companies adopted "Acme" as a name suggesting supreme quality. The Acme Corporation in Warner Bros. cartoons (supplier to Wile E. Coyote) playfully subverted this association, as their products invariably failed spectacularly.
•ACME Corporation from Looney Tunes made the word synonymous with (failed) mail-order gadgets
•Over 100 real companies were named Acme in the early 1900s phone books
•ACME contains both C and M—each worth 3 points in Scrabble
•In Greek, reaching one's "acme" meant being at peak physical and mental condition
"Her career reached its acme when she won the Nobel Prize."
"The Roman Empire was at its acme during the reign of Trajan."
"Playing ACME across two double-letter scores maximized my points."
Words with similar meaning
Peak
Highest point
Pinnacle
Summit of achievement
Zenith
Highest point in sky
Apex
Topmost point
Words with opposite meaning
Nadir
Lowest point
Bottom
Base level
Base
Foundation
Minimum
Least amount
Base Form
acme
Peak or pinnacle
Medical Term
acme
Crisis point of disease
Brand Usage
Acme
Company name
Related Terms
Absolute perfection
Peak achievement
Hit peak performance
Maximize ACME's potential:
In early 20th century America, "Acme" became the go-to name for businesses wanting to appear first in alphabetical phone directories while suggesting supreme quality. From Acme Markets to Acme Brick Company, hundreds of real businesses adopted the name. This ubiquity inspired Chuck Jones to make Acme Corporation the perpetual supplier of malfunctioning gadgets to Wile E. Coyote, turning "peak quality" into comedic irony.
Ancient Greeks believed every person, skill, and civilization had an "acme"—a peak moment of perfection. Athletes trained to reach their physical acme around age 30. Philosophers debated whether Athens had passed its cultural acme. This concept influenced Western thought about progress, decline, and the cyclical nature of achievement. The idea that everything has a peak moment shapes how we think about careers, empires, and life.
While "acme" sounds formal or old-fashioned to modern ears, it remains powerful in specific contexts. Wine critics describe vintages reaching their "acme." Medical literature still uses it for disease progression. Business writers invoke it for market peaks. The word's precision—meaning not just "high" but "highest possible"— keeps it relevant when ordinary superlatives fall short.
Acme vs. Apex
Peak vs. tip/point
Acme vs. Zenith
General peak vs. celestial high point
Pronunciation
AK-mee, not ACK-me
APEX
Highest point
PEAK
Mountain top
SUMMIT
Highest point
ZENITH
Point overhead
PINNACLE
High peak
CLIMAX
Highest point
CAME
Past of come
MACE
Weapon/spice
NADIR
Lowest point
CREST
Top of wave
Other valuable height-related words in Scrabble
Total base points: 8 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 2
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like ACME