as in milestone
a point in a chain of events at which an important change (as in one's fortunes) occurs
a watershed moment in her life came when she inherited a reasonable sum of money and was able to start her own coffee shop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in pivotal
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 watershed
Mariah Meek,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Monday’s reclamation marked a key milestone in reestablishing the tribe’s ownership within the watershed.
—
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Campbell told the Miami Herald Tuesday that the congressional race is a watershed moment for the Democratic Party at a time when Black voters — particularly Black male voters — have felt disenfranchised from the party.
—
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Noun
Without this protection, these watersheds would still provide water, but their long-term health and hydrological sustainability could be compromised if roads block stream flow and increase sediments flowing into waterways.
—
Mariah Meek,
The Conversation,
15 June 2026
Monday’s reclamation marked a key milestone in reestablishing the tribe’s ownership within the watershed.
—
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Adjective
Greylord was a watershed moment in its use of eavesdropping devices and a mole to obtain evidence instead of relying on wrongdoers to become government informants.
—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
Campbell told the Miami Herald Tuesday that the congressional race is a watershed moment for the Democratic Party at a time when Black voters — particularly Black male voters — have felt disenfranchised from the party.
—
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watershed
Noun
-
Despite a few glimmers of good feeling, today's fierce political divisions have redefined a milestone that has often been marked by unity and optimism, at least for a moment.
-
The Phillies' turnaround following the dismissal of manager Rob Thomson reached a new milestone when two of the franchise’s biggest stars delivered a historic performance.
Adjective
-
Burnham, a former cabinet minister who’s been Mayor of Greater Manchester for the best part of a decade, now re-enters parliament at a pivotal moment for his party.
-
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has transformed from an advertising awards show into a pivotal global marketplace where technology, retail, media, luxury, and entertainment converge.
Noun
-
Later on, Jaehaerys II is murdered in the episode’s climax.
-
Lisa handles the emotional stakes with masterful precision, weaving the politics of purity culture, religious control, and the mother-daughter bond into a climax that is a revolt and a reconciliation.
Adjective
-
The former touts Mohamed Salah, an epochal star with ample motivation after his fraught final campaign with Liverpool.
-
The Cane Ridge Revival would become an epochal moment in American religious history, one of the most visible manifestations of what historians would later refer to as the Second Great Awakening.
Noun
-
LondonReuters — King Charles will not live at Buckingham Palace after its 10-year refurbishment finishes next year, royal officials said on Thursday, ending nearly two centuries of the central London landmark serving as the British monarch’s primary residence.
-
Fifty years later the beloved landmark was empty and ripe for reimagining.
Adjective
-
The holiday marked the 205th anniversary of the 1821 Battle of Carabobo, which brought Venezuela a decisive victory over Spanish royalist forces.
-
The Russian president also anticipated a quick, decisive victory.
Adjective
-
Not wrong for much of the last three decades — but Saturday night’s gig, and all the joyous revelry surrounding it, showed why the Live ’25 Tour has been payoff enough for none of them to look back in anger at any of it.
Adjective
-
For gasoline is not only a commodity governed by normal supply and demand—it can also be caught up in momentous world events.
-
Alicia Keys closed out the momentous occasion decked out in a custom all-black leather look, courtesy of a collaboration between Pelle Pelle and Daniel’s Leather.
Cite this Entry
“Watershed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watershed. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
