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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It was hailed as the pinnacle of innovation at Vitpepper’s MIPCOM session, and yet, buzz surrounding the trailer was minimal.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
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The village of Caprarola is where the pinnacle of Italian grandeur meets small-town charm—a place to slow down and soak in centuries of beauty.—
Fulvio De Bonis,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Each of these three teams rank top 10 in the NFL in terms of offensive yards per game.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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Her blue satin bra was on full display underneath the top, giving the outfit a sultry spin.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Footwear News,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Then, pick a patch of sky 40 degrees away in the direction of your local zenith, which is the point directly above your head.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
20 Oct. 2025
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Goggins is in the midst of a zenith year that shows no signs of stopping.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While most of us on the plane were in this same unexpected predicament, a passenger nearby didn't seem to be sharing in our misery thanks to a compact gadget propped up their phone to the perfect viewing height.—
Anita Katee,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
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In recent years, though, the popularity of the celebs-on-a-yacht genre has reached new heights.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The culmination of 15 years of hard work, this unexpected and bold pineapple ushers in a new era of pineapple.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
14 Oct. 2025
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Think of Obama in 2010 signing the Affordable Care Act, the culmination of decades of efforts to expand health care coverage.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Gregerson’s shows her at the peak of her signature tercets, weaving together the microscopic and the grand threads of science, art, and history into wonderfully rich sonic landscapes.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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The band members credit their love for music for saving them from connecting with the wrong crowd in the '90s, when gang violence was at its peak on the city's east side, which was a popular destination for immigrants.—
NPR,
NPR,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The resounding tension of this nearly 100-year-old psychological masterpiece will leave modern audiences guessing until its emotional apex.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
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Human beasts are rarely alone, and far from secure at the apex of the animal kingdom.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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