as in pinnacle
the highest part or point
he hit the high-water mark of his acting career when he played Tiny Tim in a school play
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Recent Examples of high-water mark
The Weeknd reached a new high-water mark on Spotify this week.
—
Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2023
How San Francisco settles the debate could reverberate throughout the reparations movement, setting a high-water mark for an effort that has been criticized for, so far, producing small sums.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
This year’s crop of competitors is a far cry from recent years when the starting roster has approached triple digits, hitting a high-water mark of 96 mushers in 2008 (though a more modest number, 78, crossed the finish line).
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Feb. 2023
In Paso Robles, dozens of makeshift encampments sprang up along roadways, above the Salinas’ high-water mark.
—Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for high-water mark
Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2023
How San Francisco settles the debate could reverberate throughout the reparations movement, setting a high-water mark for an effort that has been criticized for, so far, producing small sums.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
This year’s crop of competitors is a far cry from recent years when the starting roster has approached triple digits, hitting a high-water mark of 96 mushers in 2008 (though a more modest number, 78, crossed the finish line).
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Feb. 2023
In Paso Robles, dozens of makeshift encampments sprang up along roadways, above the Salinas’ high-water mark.
—Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for high-water mark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-water mark
Noun
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Young reached the pinnacle of success in high school at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif.—he was named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2020—and in college at Alabama.—
Eric Jackson,
Sportico.com,
7 July 2025
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That said, James Cameron's epic reaches the pinnacle of disaster-movie impudence with the distasteful suggestion that the most celebrated tragedy of the 20th century occurred because a few lookouts were distracted by Kate and Leo sucking face.—
EW Staff Published,
EW.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
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Yet many men, in pursuit of growth and achievement, entirely sacrifice their hobbies, passions, and relationships, only to arrive at the top with fractured lives.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Sitting at the top are Manchester City, the only club to exceed $50m so far.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
For such a humanist filmmaker, Boyle reached his zenith by pondering us at our lowest point.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
20 June 2025
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The band had reached its zenith, with Beatlemania-size crowds greeting them in Australia and Canada, and significant success cracking the American market.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 June 2025
Noun
-
The first-floor gallery is confusing enough with its varying ceiling heights and tomb-like layout.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
7 July 2025
-
The river reached its second-highest height on record, surpassing a 1987 flood level, according to the National Weather Service.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Receiving this honorary Oscar is the culmination of a dream.—
Jon Burlingame,
Variety,
26 June 2025
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For Jake, who played basketball at Washington University from 2021 to 2023, draft night was a culmination of the family’s dream: older brother Josh also played college ball at Lehigh University.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
High upon the peak of an old, weathered cabin perched a brown and white billy goat.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
6 July 2025
-
From the peaks of the Southern Alps to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the country offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern living.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
The deadly apex aliens have finally revealed themselves, rapidly spreading their deadly spikes across the planet.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
5 July 2025
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The apex of sweet wine from Sicily can be found in a glass of Donnafuguta Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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