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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Just as Russ is about to reach the pinnacle of college athletic achievement, a pair of blunders torpedo the season, his public image and his future professional career.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The special ops line The special operations line of power tools represents the pinnacle of underwater tool engineering.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Remove parchment circle from top of pie.—
Staff Author,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Store in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container, and label and date before freezing.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In other words, at its post-Diana zenith, the support for the monarchy was there but had gone soft.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Classical When Franz Liszt was at the zenith of his fame in the nineteenth century, his fans were so enthralled by his good looks and talent that his mere presence created an atmosphere of mass hysteria.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Solis is constantly reaching for new heights — an apt metaphor for his career.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The mix of full-height glazing and open-plan architecture dissolves the boundary between inside and out.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The deal marked a culmination of sorts for Kohli, 37, who has now spent most of his life working at Friendly’s in some capacity.—
Ashton Jackson,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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This marks the culmination of a journey that began shortly after Sting's retirement.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Having finished the 14,000-foot peaks in Colorado and California’s Sierra Range — including Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48 states at 14,500 feet — the next stop for the renowned Spanish endurance athlete is Mount Shasta in northern California, near the Oregon border.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
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Plus, enjoy a special sneak peak of the Below Deck Down Under premiere, featuring the The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City cross-over charter.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Following the unexpected visit, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has placed a large bear trap in the Lemis’ front yard, hoping to lure the apex predator in with donuts for a safe removal, per NBC Connecticut.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
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This time of year, these apex predators are packing on the pounds by feasting on calorie-rich sockeye salmon at Brooks Falls.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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