watershed 1 of 2

noun

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌshed How to pronounce watershed (audio)
Definition of watershednext
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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watershed

2 of 2

adjective

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
Noun
The long-term goal is to retore the watershed as well as public access to the Naugatuck River. — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 26 June 2026 That wolf briefly crossed the interstate in southeastern Colorado and moved through watersheds in Pueblo, Otero and Las Animas counties before returning west of the highway, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced Wednesday. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 24 June 2026
Adjective
In its April 26 letter, the watershed advisory board said the training center project could harm the Fenton River, a major contributor to the 164-square-mile watershed, the largest in the state. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026 While Juneteenth became a federal holiday just five years ago, Bay Area communities have been celebrating the watershed event for over 80 years. — Laura A. Oda, Mercury News, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for watershed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watershed
  1. milestone
  2. pivotal
  3. climax
  4. epochal
  5. landmark
  6. decisive
  7. payoff
  8. momentous
Noun
  • The Star-Telegram service team covered a range of stories last week, from filming updates on major TV productions to weather milestones and changes on the local bar scene.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • From a century-old City Hall closing for repairs to a downtown bridge project well behind schedule, several major South Florida development projects are hitting key milestones this year.
    — Jessica Lipscomb, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026
Definition of milestone
Adjective
  • Defense experts and strategists have described its drone campaign as pivotal in helping to stall Russia’s military momentum, while also warning that Kyiv’s deep-strike successes have drastically raised the risk of escalation.
    — Katie Foley, CNBC, 10 July 2026
  • Go behind the scenes with Forbes Under 30 founders, creators and musicians—and the investors and mentors who backed them—to hear the real stories, lessons and pivotal moments behind building something that lasts.
    — Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of pivotal
Noun
  • Then, as the frenzied funeral events reached their climax, US bombs and missiles struck across the country in retaliation at Iranian strikes on civilian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Such frustration is understandable, given the collective hopes for a spectacular sporting climax were dashed.
    — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of climax
Adjective
  • The former touts Mohamed Salah, an epochal star with ample motivation after his fraught final campaign with Liverpool.
    — Christopher Hamill, New York Times, 15 June 2026
  • 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.
    — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
Definition of epochal
Noun
  • Its shuttering, alongside other long-standing landmarks like Taix restaurant, underscores Echo Park’s growing tension between new development and preserving neighborhood character.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • The landmarks can refer to the arrest location or a place near the arrest.
    — Mathew Miranda July 9, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of landmark
Adjective
  • Saibari scored in each of Morocco’s three group games and struck the decisive penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands.
    — Joe Murphy, NBC news, 9 July 2026
  • Veterinarians are trained to be decisive and efficient, and the instinct in a tense moment is almost always to reach for a fix the moment a client shows distress.
    — Kwame Christian Esq, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of decisive
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.
    — Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 17 Aug. 2025
Definition of payoff
Adjective
  • For the momentous occasion, the happy couple had various spaces of the iconic arena transformed.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • The three momentous events stand on their own, detached enough to seem entirely unrelated.
    — Vahe Gregorian July 4, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Definition of momentous

Browse Nearby Words

waters down
watershed
watersheds
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Cite this Entry

“Watershed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watershed. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on watershed

Nglish: Translation of watershed for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about watershed

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