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
  • Macho Cowboy At the top of the pinnacle of power within the telenovela structure is the macho cowboy whose high emotional expressions of jealousy, anger, and confrontation are accepted as passionate acts of strength or romantic gestures.
    — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The Nike Apex, as the name suggests, will be the new pinnacle of the Swoosh’s race day fleet.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of pinnacle
Noun
  • After a 20-minute telecast delay due to the NFL game, the pop icon began her performance perched on the top of a piano as Carpenter played the keys.
    — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026
  • DeFoe finished 13th in the angler-of-the-year race and finished in the top 12 in four of the circuit's seven tournaments.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of top
Noun
  • At its zenith, the collection of buildings housed world-famous galleries and artist exhibitions that made the gritty section of Santa Monica an unlikely contemporary art capital.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of zenith
Noun
  • Rooms Faraway Sag Harbor has 67 guest rooms and suites, including a handful of lofts with double-height ceilings.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
  • That’s a delicate way of saying that the neighborhood, for all its density and height, is still a little underpopulated.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of height
Noun
  • Theo Bunch, director of Build Trybe, told The Star that the groundbreaking was the culmination of several months of planning and talks with other groups in the community.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of culmination
Noun
  • Currently, the entire state of Utah produces only around 4 gigawatts of electricity on average (though its peak capacity in summer can reach around 10 gigawatts).
    — Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
  • However, sky watchers can occasionally spot hundreds of shooting stars per hour during the Draconids’ peak.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of peak
Noun
  • Artificial Intelligence has become the apex of this phenomenon.
    — Rumman Chowdhury, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • According to track telemetry, F2 cars approach Turn 15 at about 155 to 161 mph, while apex speeds range from 50 to 60 mph.
    — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 24 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 5 Oct. 2026.

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