1
as in pinnacles
the highest part or point
at that point the filmmaker was at the crest of his critical acclaim, which included winning an Oscar for best picture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ridges
the line formed when two sloping surfaces come together along their topmost edge
the hiking party reached the crest of the mountain just as it began to thunder
Synonyms & Similar 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 crests
Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
The hipbelt wings each flare to about 5 inches wide on either side of the spine, fully wrapping the iliac crests and providing decent load distribution to the hips.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
On the Argentinean side, fierce winds rise and fall above the peaks in mountain waves, tossing up rows of thin white clouds like foamy crests.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recently detailed in the journal Science, the discovery was years in the making — with researchers finding jaw fragments in 2019 and two additional crests in 2022.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
When the knife point is resting on the cutting board, the edge’s curve crests a half inch to an inch above the surface, putting the most aggressive slicing angle perfectly at steak height.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
The Scottish Tartans Museum and Heritage Center, the only one of its kind in the country, has the ability to search family crests and tartans.
—Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition to the Skagit River at Mount Vernon, several other rivers saw record crests, according to an NBC News analysis, including at the Snohomish River in Snohomish, the Cedar River in Renton, the Nooksack River in North Cedarville and the Grays River in Rosburg.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 12 Dec. 2025
Skagit is forecast for record-setting crests in parts in the early hours of Thursday morning.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
While some of the paintings were directly paid for by the city, most were paid for by prominent Lucerne families whose names and crests are still visible along the bottom of the artworks.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Mar. 2026
The hipbelt wings each flare to about 5 inches wide on either side of the spine, fully wrapping the iliac crests and providing decent load distribution to the hips.
—Corey Buhay, Outside, 3 Mar. 2026
On the Argentinean side, fierce winds rise and fall above the peaks in mountain waves, tossing up rows of thin white clouds like foamy crests.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recently detailed in the journal Science, the discovery was years in the making — with researchers finding jaw fragments in 2019 and two additional crests in 2022.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Mar. 2026
When the knife point is resting on the cutting board, the edge’s curve crests a half inch to an inch above the surface, putting the most aggressive slicing angle perfectly at steak height.
—Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 Feb. 2026
The Scottish Tartans Museum and Heritage Center, the only one of its kind in the country, has the ability to search family crests and tartans.
—Trudy Haywood Saunders, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
In addition to the Skagit River at Mount Vernon, several other rivers saw record crests, according to an NBC News analysis, including at the Snohomish River in Snohomish, the Cedar River in Renton, the Nooksack River in North Cedarville and the Grays River in Rosburg.
—Patrick Smith, NBC news, 12 Dec. 2025
Skagit is forecast for record-setting crests in parts in the early hours of Thursday morning.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crests
Noun
-
This sea of sharp buttes and sky-high pinnacles offers numerous west-facing vantage points.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Sea turtles snoozed, manta rays glided, and reef fish darted by the thousands over lava pinnacles covered in corals and basket sponges.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
What are the shadows doing, coming off the ridges of those canyons?—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The area's geography of tall seaside cliffs and sharp mountain ridges can contribute to turbulent air and quick weather changes that pose hazards for aviation.—
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each batch spans big-name brands and underrated labels alike and includes tops, bottoms, bags, matching sets, shoes, and beyond.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
-
These large bulb-forming plants of white-, pink- or white and-maroon blooms are durable, and even when the tops are frozen rapidly being new growth with the return of warm spring weather.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An item that is adjustable will allow the user to lock in specific heights that work best for them.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
This is a rendering of Portman Holdings' plan for Amsterdam Walk, which has undergone multiple revisions to tweak its building heights and density.—
Zachary Hansen,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first was a gentle bell curve; the second was a jagged line, with two sharp peaks—one on the left, the other on the right.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
While the 1970s and 80s had some peaks in the data, there is a definite trend in average wind gusts from 1990 to the present.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Full moons are culminations — don’t forget to pause and see what’s already come full circle before rushing into more.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
28 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Using them lets the driver maximize engine power under varying driving conditions, such as accelerating in a straight line or blasting between apexes at a track or on a twisty road.—
Karl Brauer,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Crests.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crests. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
