as in pinnacle
the highest part or point
he hit the high-water mark of his acting career when he played Tiny Tim in a school play
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Recent Examples of high-water mark
The Weeknd reached a new high-water mark on Spotify this week.
—
Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2023
How San Francisco settles the debate could reverberate throughout the reparations movement, setting a high-water mark for an effort that has been criticized for, so far, producing small sums.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
This year’s crop of competitors is a far cry from recent years when the starting roster has approached triple digits, hitting a high-water mark of 96 mushers in 2008 (though a more modest number, 78, crossed the finish line).
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Feb. 2023
In Paso Robles, dozens of makeshift encampments sprang up along roadways, above the Salinas’ high-water mark.
—Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for high-water mark
Glenn Rowley, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2023
How San Francisco settles the debate could reverberate throughout the reparations movement, setting a high-water mark for an effort that has been criticized for, so far, producing small sums.
—Emmanuel Felton, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023
This year’s crop of competitors is a far cry from recent years when the starting roster has approached triple digits, hitting a high-water mark of 96 mushers in 2008 (though a more modest number, 78, crossed the finish line).
—Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 22 Feb. 2023
In Paso Robles, dozens of makeshift encampments sprang up along roadways, above the Salinas’ high-water mark.
—Jeremy Miller, WIRED, 18 Feb. 2023
See All Example Sentences for high-water mark
Recent Examples of Synonyms for high-water mark
Noun
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If the war in Vietnam marked the pinnacle of war journalism, and AP had a legendary perch in that war, much of it was due to Faas.—
Gary Knight,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The world tells of success as such a wonderful story, the pinnacle of happiness.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Noun
-
Ironically, island escapes are not at the top of it.—
Marlise Kast-Myers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Aug. 2025
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Netflix global top 10: Mandala Murders Directed by Gopi Putharan, Mandala Murders made its debut on Netflix on July 25.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes.com,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Not even the imaginary zenith of human civilization can overpower nature forever.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Some shows in the U.S. later in the year might be about the zenith of anything that anybody ever imagined really.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
16 July 2025
Noun
-
Residents can check wave height predictions by viewing the NWS Great Lakes Portal, which updates wave heights, wind gusts and air temperature forecasts.—
Sarah Moore,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
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Early warning signs of osteoporosis include low bone density, bone fractures, lost height, a curved upper back, sudden back pain, gastrointestinal issues, dental problems, and a fracture while pregnant.—
Marissa Sansone,
Verywell Health,
30 July 2025
Noun
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These few minutes with the whale sharks are the culmination of a year’s planning, a gigantic logistical effort to shadow a giant.—
Matthew Abbott,
New York Times,
27 July 2025
-
The case was the culmination of a 16-year fight by an Idaho couple who sought only to build a home on their own property.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
What time will the August full moon peak in Nashville?—
Diana Leyva,
The Tennessean,
31 July 2025
-
The project’s peak cost was estimated to be over $60 million for the first phase.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
Noun
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At the apex of the civil-rights movement—after the assassination of John F. Kennedy but before that of Martin Luther King, Jr.—it was clear that legal equality, though hard-won, would not be enough.—
Idrees Kahloon,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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Though Drake was listed as the apex of the experience, Lauryn Hill and Vybz Kartel ensured that fans walked away with memories that would last a lifetime.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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