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
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as in pivotal
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watershed
Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
This year, the snowpack in the upper part of the Colorado River watershed stands at 59% of average, and that will mean even less snowmelt feeding the river’s reservoirs, which are declining toward critically low levels.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Sidharth Hariharan The 8-dimensional sphere-packing proof formalization alone, announced on February 23, represents a watershed moment for autoformalization and AI–human collaboration.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Noun
The warmer temperatures tinker with the health of the watershed.
—Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
This year, the snowpack in the upper part of the Colorado River watershed stands at 59% of average, and that will mean even less snowmelt feeding the river’s reservoirs, which are declining toward critically low levels.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
For an industry long resistant to change, this is a watershed moment.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 2 Mar. 2026
Sidharth Hariharan The 8-dimensional sphere-packing proof formalization alone, announced on February 23, represents a watershed moment for autoformalization and AI–human collaboration.
—IEEE Spectrum, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watershed
Noun
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In a new Instagram post shared over the weekend, the athlete is seen performing six unassisted pull-ups before lowering herself onto a step stool, returning to her crutches and fist-bumping her trainer to celebrate the milestone.—
Shafiq Najib,
ABC News,
22 Mar. 2026
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There will be celebrations, community service projects, volunteer drives, patriotic events — all worthy ways to mark this milestone.—
Jennifer N. Pritzker,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Understanding the gravity of a red flag warning and adhering to these precautions is pivotal in reducing the risk of wildfires during these hazardous conditions.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Martinez said mental health care is pivotal to reaching the people who need it most.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His color choices in the film’s emotional climax are the subtle, purposeful craft work that the cinematography branch voters live for.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Mar. 2026
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By making this register the emotional climax of the season, the show leaves us with the impression that John and Carolyn’s relationship was more messed up than fulfilling or loving.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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These are huge, epochal changes for older Americans that have happened in just the past 15 years.—
Ken Stern,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
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In a city willing to displace a community garden or a newsstand to claw back a few extra feet, the Armory’s yawning, epochal emptiness seems like poking through your medicine cabinet and finding an alternate universe behind it.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Aramark, the food service company behind many ballpark concessions, sees the challenge as an opportunity tied to a landmark event on the baseball calendar.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
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Promotional materials set West Hollywood as the backdrop, touting the city’s outsize cultural and economic impact, alongside soaring photos of landmarks like the Pacific Design Center (pictured) and shopping hub the Beverly Center.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Analysts say his decisive mandate could give him room to pursue reforms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Half-winger, pure showman, Hazard would not always contribute a decisive goal or assist for Chelsea.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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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.—
Andrew Unterberger,
Billboard,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Evaluating extraordinary claims Detecting extraterrestrial life in any form would be a momentous occasion, so, as Impey wrote, making a declaration might not be cut-and-dried.—
Mary Magnuson,
The Conversation,
20 Mar. 2026
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Sunday's win for Jordan feels even more momentous given a particularly egregious moment that happened earlier in late February.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Watershed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watershed. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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