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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But there’s one Michter’s expression that trumps all of these in terms of value and age—Celebration Sour Mash, a blend of whiskeys that represents the pinnacle of the distillery’s portfolio that has returned for 2026.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
11 Feb. 2026
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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
-
Olympians – athletes at the top of their sport and in prime health – are idolized and often viewed as superhuman.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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Following the rally, Larson and Jeffries left for a fundraising dinner at The Foundry restaurant at the top of the Hartford Steam Boiler building, a frequent location for fundraisers when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to town.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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During her three decades at the family business, Donatella Versace took this philosophy to its zenith, pairing outrageous designs with just the right celebrity, to proclaim that a plunging neckline, or a sparkly jumpsuit, was a statement of empowerment.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
5 Feb. 2026
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States Are Taking Control From Markets As an economist, Fatih Birol underlines that the era of open, supply-and-demand energy markets, which found its zenith in the 1990s and 2000s, is effectively over.—
Scott Montgomery,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The ball of the shoe to the heel has a tapered height, with the heel reaching three inches for a little extra thickness.—
Olivia Dubyak,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Yabusele is a 6-foot-7 forward who makes up for a slight lack of height with a powerful frame and aggressive approach around the basket.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Hill said the changes to modular housing are the culmination of a 40-year effort.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The attorneys went on to argue that Pavlovich’s lawsuits were the culmination of a plan to smear Gaiman and that any legal disputes should be resolved in New Zealand, not the United States.—
Todd Richmond,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At their peak, the gatherings might attract 40 or more people.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Feb. 2026
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On Colorado's tallest peaks, including Mount Zirkel, and ski areas, including Keystone and Breckenridge, snow is forecast through Saturday evening.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The apex of the sun's motion through space is near the summer star Vega, almost opposite in the sky from Orion.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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Regina is the teenage apex predator of North Shore High, always looking for an opportunity to bolster her impeccable popularity or take down a potential rival.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“High-water mark.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/high-water%20mark. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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