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
Relevance
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
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
-
The theater, declared a landmark in 1988, is a 13-story shadow box preserving bits from a rich history of pop culture pinnacles past.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
-
With just 15 percent of its land planted to Sangiovese—known locally as Brunello for over 400 years—Brunello di Montalcino is often hailed as the pinnacle of the variety.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Max Clark went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, driving in the winning run in the top of the seventh inning as Barnstable (9-5) defeated Mashpee, 8-6.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
-
Several areas in the facility were unclean with excess grease/debris/residue including brown spill stains on top of the microwave and the floor below the main cook line.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 8,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
After Apex, Charlize Theron and director Baltasar Kormákur may have found a new zenith.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
7 May 2026
-
At its zenith, sky-gazers can expect to see as many as 50 meteors an hour under optimal conditions, although NASA warns that fainter meteors may be eclipsed by bright moonlight this year.—
Adam Kovac,
Scientific American,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
Many of the precautions a traveler could take are similar to those that became familiar at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
-
Schlamminger said that’s a notable difference — such as measuring the height of a human and being a millimeter or two off.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The feat was the culmination of a shift—or, perhaps more aptly, a total disruption—in marathoning over the past few years, in which the eventual breaking of the mythical two-hour mark went from an impossibility to a guarantee.—
Alex Hutchinson,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The appointment, which requires Senate confirmation, appears to mark the culmination of a chaotic appointment process for a vacancy on the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, which controls Kansas City’s police department.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Billionaire David Murdock – who held a controlling position at Dole at the time – took a stab at tourism, building a hotel at the base (still there as a Four Season’s resort) and a smaller, more intimate resort at the island peak.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
The linen shirt stays breathable even in peak humidity and layers easily over swimwear, while the stretch shorts offer structure without stiffness.—
Paris Wilson,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
The apex of international soccer will be on display this summer in Atlanta, but not everyone can get tickets to see the World Cup matches in the flesh.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
11 May 2026
-
When in the ocean, part of this risk includes interacting with apex predators such as sharks.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
