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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This year your creativity, zest and desire for life are at a pinnacle.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
17 Mar. 2026
-
It was transformed into a 125-unit luxury condo by 2002, the pinnacle of which is a quadplex with an 80-foot stainless-steel slide, a rock wall, and a rope swing.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The result was a 9-1 thumping by the Hurricanes that started the Panthers’ 6-11-0 spiral that dropped them from playoff contention and also triggered Carolina’s 12-game point streak that vaulted the team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
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Lale Esquivel’s solo homer led off the top of sixth inning where the Mustangs scored 5 times.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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This cycle has reached its zenith in Netanyahu’s latest and greatest gamble.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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This electrifying combo of documentary and concert film showcases the King of Rock 'n' Roll at his creative zenith during his 1970s Las Vegas residency and early '70s tours, and more importantly showcases Presley in all of his jumpsuited splendor, as both cultural icon and cool guy.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Betty, attempting to paper over her unthinkable loss, dresses Laura in her daughter’s clothes, gives her her daughter’s place at family meals, has her daughter’s bike fixed to Laura’s height.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
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Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Arborists work in a world of extreme heights and life-or-death consequences every day.—
Calin Van Paris,
Outside,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As Joachim Trier stood on the Dolby Theatre stage, clutching Norway’s first Academy Award, the moment marked the culmination of a decades-long national project — built patiently, deliberately and with oil money turned into cultural capital.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Mar. 2026
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The game was the culmination of a weekend’s worth of events.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The probability of lightning strikes rises as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is directly above.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Mar. 2026
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Today, the Dolomites are a UNESCO heritage site and their beauty attracts celebrities and huge numbers of other tourists — many lured by images shared on social media of the turquoise Alpine lakes and stunning peaks.—
Ruth Sherlock,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In New York City, the collapse hasn’t been so dire; production has reached roughly 50 percent of its mid-2000s apex, according to one analysis.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Wallace's murder shocked viewers and served as the emotional apex of the show's first season, thanks to Jordan's moving performance.—
Ken Simmons,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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