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
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Recent Examples of turning points
The Eras Tour Brain scans of thousands of people revealed that the human brain has five distinct eras, with turning points in the way it is organized occurring at age nine, 32, 66 and 83.
—
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2025
There are turning points in just about every campaign like this and Ireland’s came in September with their humbling 2-1 defeat by 10-man Armenia, ranked 105th in the world, 45 places below them.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Those relationships, even small ones, can be turning points.
—Laura Rivera, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
There were a number of turning points that went against the Chiefs.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
These are the kinds of turning points that make flexibility essential.
—Hillary Stalker, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Inspired by the familiar red, yellow and green signals that guide drivers on the road, this framework can help couples navigate the daily choices and turning points that shape their relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 18 Dec. 2025
There are turning points in just about every campaign like this and Ireland’s came in September with their humbling 2-1 defeat by 10-man Armenia, ranked 105th in the world, 45 places below them.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
Those relationships, even small ones, can be turning points.
—Laura Rivera, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025
There were a number of turning points that went against the Chiefs.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025
These are the kinds of turning points that make flexibility essential.
—Hillary Stalker, Nashville Tennessean, 2 Oct. 2025
Inspired by the familiar red, yellow and green signals that guide drivers on the road, this framework can help couples navigate the daily choices and turning points that shape their relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for turning points
Noun
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Bank of China’s Pivotal Role and Future Innovations Zhu Jing of Bank of China (Hong Kong) detailed the milestones leading to the MOU.—
Sean Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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Daniel, for his part, keeps his feet on the ground amid aspirations for bigger milestones.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There was plenty of raw energy in climaxes, sometimes too much for so supportive and reinforcing an acoustic as the Meyerson Symphony Center’s.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
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Thus a wonderful section on The Jew of Malta climaxes in an unfortunate vision of the text as a secret message to Lord Strange, a wealthy and important patron of the arts.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The rainfall melted a significant amount of snow in mountain watersheds, which contributed to the flooding in Washington state.—
Alejandro N. Flores,
The Conversation,
8 Jan. 2026
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The team installed beaver-style dams across the Cache la Poudre and Willow Creek watersheds — both burned in the 2020 wildfires — to help slow water flow and instead spread the water over a floodplain.—
Elise Schmelzer,
Denver Post,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
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From nearly every vantage point, the estate offers unobstructed views of the Mokulua Islands, the twin islets that sit just offshore and rank among O‘ahu’s most recognizable natural landmarks.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
22 Jan. 2026
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To see the city from above, reserve a helicopter tour that will whisk you past Montreal’s landmarks or arrange a romantic hot-air balloon experience at either sunrise or sunset.—
Carolyn Heller,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The other women look at him from the corners of their eyes, and move carefully to the other side of the well.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
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On draft night, Dëmin’s selection was questioned in some corners, framed as a reach or a gamble.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Turning points.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/turning%20points. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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