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high-water mark

noun

Definition of high-water marknext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of high-water mark 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 The Weeknd reached a new high-water mark on Spotify this week. — Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 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
  1. pinnacle
  2. top
  3. zenith
  4. height
  5. culmination
  6. peak
  7. apex
Noun
  • That notion reached its pinnacle after the Chiefs beat the Bills 32-29 in the AFC Championship Game but was punctured by their 40-22 clobbering at the hands of the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
  • These pioneers fully expected that machines would one day surpass humans—that AGI would become ASI, or artificial superintelligence—because there’s no reason to expect that humans are the pinnacle of intelligence.
    — George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • But the box office milestone wasn’t really the figure Theron had at the top of her mind.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The top is varied enough in design enough to wear with jeans, a skirt, or your favorite work trousers.
    — Jessie Quinn, PEOPLE, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • Eventing, at the best of times, is an adrenaline junky’s zenith; a game for the preternaturally brave and ineffably technically minded.
    — Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Windstar passengers can tour the ancient castle at the hilly town’s zenith, lounge on one of the sandy beaches, or visit an olive grove, where extra-virgin olive oil is produced using traditional methods.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • And depending on the era in which the carpet was installed, the color, style, make, or pile height can come off as dated and tacky.
    — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Despite just turning 14, Rocky appeared almost the same height as his mother in the rare joint photo.
    — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of height
Noun
  • The list is the culmination of a yearlong editorial vetting process where thousands of products are submitted for consideration and Allure editors run extensive tests to select winners, according to Allure.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The raid at the Travelodge and Super 8 Hotels on James Circle was a culmination of a yearlong investigation, Brooklyn Center officials said.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • Fall is officially here, which means hiking season is about to reach its peak.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Shift toward low-carbon infrastructure For Viaro Energy, which accounts for up to 9% of UK gross gas production at peak output, the partnership reflects a shift toward resilient, low-carbon infrastructure.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • The apex of his season came in July, when Walker outlasted hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber to win the 2026 Home Run Derby on a walk-off blast.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Even when stomped into the mud by a 17,500-pound apex predator, dinosaur footprints rarely last long enough to fossilize over millions of years.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of apex

Browse Nearby Words

high-voltage
high-water mark
high-water marks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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