turning points

noun

plural of turning point
as in milestones
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs the turning point came when Victor finally admitted he was a werewolf

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 turning points The two Naked Raygun live records each find the band at turning points. — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 Both Miguel and Sofia are at turning points, and the current distractions, maybe temptations, are not helping. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026 Both of the relationship crises reach what seem like turning points. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Although geopolitical analysts love to talk about turning points, crossroads, and dilemmas, many governments have a prosaic tendency to defy these dramatic predictions and muddle through. — Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026 The big picture involves market cycle dynamics, with turning points and tipping points. — Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 There have been turning points throughout Hollywood history when an old order collapsed and was replaced by something cooler and more provocative. — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 July 2026 During this time, our ideas serve as catalysts while conversations become turning points. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 And which team has marked turning points in their learning curve in European finals? — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning points
  1. milestones
  2. climaxes
  3. watersheds
  4. landmarks
  5. corners
Noun
  • Under the change-of-control terms of his 2025 CEO award, operating milestones would fall away, and the deal price would determine whether Tesla meets the market value thresholds.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The collection did, however, briefly touch on important American figures and milestones.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of milestones
Noun
  • The scene comes out of nowhere, as the family are watching The Muppet Show, and climaxes with David having his throat slit.
    — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The pop star’s fourth album explores the cracks between the hits, the climaxes, and the comedowns.
    — Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of climaxes
Noun
  • Standing forests retain carbon, protect watersheds, and help regulate local temperatures and water cycles.
    — Jessica Hullinger, Time, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Local contractor Kev Woolboy was helping coordinate response efforts, checking watersheds along the highway, as floodwaters from as far as 60 miles away raced toward town.
    — Adam Burke, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of watersheds
Noun
  • Locals will appreciate the Magic City’s mini landmarks dotted along the path, like the Tower Theater in Little Havana, a lifeguard station in South Beach and Cerveceria La Tropical brewery in Wynwood.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 13 Nov. 2026
  • As the city continues to rebuild, many landmarks are welcoming tourists again.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of landmarks
Noun
  • Huang, who resigned from his post Thursday, was the AI world’s central bank chairman and human security blanket, always there with a checkbook to backstop, acquire, hire, invest in, or otherwise underwrite the least underwritable corners of AI.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Nov. 2026
  • Financial innovation could also spread that phenomenon to other corners of the developing world, concentrating even more of the world’s savings—and its financial risks—in a single currency managed by a single central bank.
    — Gordon Liao, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of corners

Browse Nearby Words

turning point
turning points
turning tail
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Turning points.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20points. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
speech-bubble-untangle
Simplify The Convoluted Expression Quiz A quiz that’s as “uncomplicated as a round de...
See All