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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And yet, for the past 20 years, Ruzsa’s result has represented the pinnacle of progress on Chowla’s cosine problem.—
Leila Sloman,
Quanta Magazine,
28 Jan. 2026
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The broadcast hit its pinnacle when the announcers moved aside and showed Honnold making his way up the building.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On the runway, the ensemble—which consisted of a cream-colored ruffled halter top and silk ball skirt—was shown with fabric connecting the top and the skirt, but Jenner opted to bare her stomach in between, making the skirt ultra low-rise.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
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The cap-sleeve top feels polished enough for sightseeing, while the relaxed bottoms keep things comfortable.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Directly above Sirius, about a third of the way from the horizon to the zenith (the point directly overhead) is Orion.—
Jesse Emspak,
Space.com,
18 Jan. 2026
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The 49ers stored that emotion and exploded on the Eagles the following season, scoring touchdowns on six straight possession for a 42-19 win that may have been the zenith of Shanahan’s career as a regular-season coach.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These slip-on sneakers feature a sleek leather upper and subtle platform outsoles that add a bit of height while helping ease heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendonitis.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
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Daytime temperatures are also forecast to return to more seasonable heights pretty quickly, with a high of 55 degrees by Monday.—
Julia James,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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San Dieguito’s Director of Teaching Learning and Education Brieahna Weatherford said getting to this point has been incredibly challenging, the culmination of two years of work.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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The wife of Patriots owner Robert Kraft launched the Pawtriots on the first day of training camp last July, in partnership with local animal shelters across New England, a culmination of years in the making.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The woman used her headlamp light to alert crews and in a photo of the mountain her location can be seen as a white point of light in the vastness of the peak.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Perhaps no one understands the ambition of a coach who reached this NFL peak after a steep climb than a West Virginia kid who arrived as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd University.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This weakening of the teeth of the apex predators could affect the broader marine ecosystem, too.—
Justin Klawans,
TheWeek,
26 Jan. 2026
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Yamagami’s sister’s testimony was, as measured by the number of weeping observers, the emotional apex of the trial.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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