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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Surf Ranch in Fresno, created by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, became a pinnacle of wave technology, but has a hefty price tag in the tens of thousands to access.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
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Love probably needs to play like a $220 million quarterback for the Packers to reach the sport’s pinnacle.—
Matt Schneidman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Nate Lewis had four hits and three RBIs, including the tiebreaker in the top of the ninth. Crespi 4, Mater Dei 3: Mikey Martinez hit a three-run home run and Jackson Eisenhauer threw two hits of shutout relief with four strikeouts.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
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Still, another factor should always rise to the top of the list: relationships.—
Shirin Ali,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Noun
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Valerie Mahaffey, who reached a career zenith in 1992 with an Emmy win for Best Supporting actress in a Drama Series for Northern Exposure, died on May 30 after losing her battle with cancer.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
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My disappointment at just missing the zenith of this color riot is quickly replaced by a strongly sweet aroma that floods my nose while passing through Oberoi Vindhyavilas Wildlife Resort’s imposing entrance.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Originally approved by the Florida Legislature in 2023, the Live Local Act allows mixed-use projects in commercial and industrial districts to exceed limits on local density and height zoning rules so long as developers set aside 40 percent of residential units for workforce housing.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
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For the past four years, a fleet of drone vessels has purposefully steered into the heart of hurricanes to gather information on a storm’s wind speeds, wave heights and, critically, the complex transfer of heat and moisture between the ocean and the air right above it.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Their presence is the culmination of a decade-long project under Schmetzer, the latest big game for a club well-accustomed to the spotlight.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
8 June 2025
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But the opening is the culmination of many more years, stretching back to Shi’s start in the hospitality space.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
5 June 2025
Noun
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Chance of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches and peaks when the storm is overhead.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2025
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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,
12 June 2025
Noun
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Like in Mario Kart 8, executing a taunt (with the drift button) at the apex of a ramp will let players get a little speed boost.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
6 June 2025
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Menswear, particularly suited looks, for women reached an apex between 2024 and 2025.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
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