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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of watershed
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
For her, the exchange with the machine had felt like an existential watershed.
—D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Through stunning 360° visuals, the film makes tangible what most consumers never see: the literal draining of rivers, the poisoning of watersheds, and the human cost of our clothing’s hidden water footprint.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The northern Sierra — home to the state’s most productive watersheds — now sits at 109% of its April 1 average, with 29.2 inches of snow water.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Noun
Intense atmospheric rivers and heavy snowpack accumulation across the Sierra Nevada and surrounding watersheds helped fill Lake Shasta at a record pace.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025
For her, the exchange with the machine had felt like an existential watershed.
—D. Graham Burnett, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2025
Through stunning 360° visuals, the film makes tangible what most consumers never see: the literal draining of rivers, the poisoning of watersheds, and the human cost of our clothing’s hidden water footprint.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
The northern Sierra — home to the state’s most productive watersheds — now sits at 109% of its April 1 average, with 29.2 inches of snow water.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for watershed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for watershed
Noun
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To mark the milestone, granddaughter Riley Keough shared an Instagram Stories tribute for Priscilla — the ex-wife of the late Elvis Presley.—
Nicholas Rice,
People.com,
25 May 2025
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More big stories In post-fire milestone, Pacific Coast Highway reopens, clearing a traffic bottleneck.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Competing for the pivotal center position are Carter Miller and Cameron Kinnie, both vying to distinguish themselves and seize this critical spot in the lineup.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 May 2025
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Chiuri, who joined Dior in 2016 after her tenure at Valentino, has played a pivotal role in reshaping the French fashion house’s identity and product direction.—
Essence,
Essence,
30 May 2025
Noun
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With its vintage vibes and slow-burn suspense, the film, directed by Matt Palmer, captivates audiences with its brutal, twisty climax and echoes horror classics like Scream and Heathers.—
Jane LaCroix,
People.com,
24 May 2025
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Bird’s action scenes are their own symphonies, each with a distinct melody and a breathless climax.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
Noun
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Created by a Benedictine monk with a serious eye for detail, this whimsical stop features 125 tiny, handcrafted replicas of famous historic landmarks, like St. Peter’s Basilica and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, all located on the grounds of Alabama’s only Benedictine monastery, St. Bernard Abbey.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
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The National, Autograph Hotel Located in what was once the 1932 First National Center, The National is a historic landmark that once served as a banking hall.—
Anne Roderique-Jones,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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For a country so historically averse to government debt, the speed and scope of these decisions demonstrate how deeply German officials believe that the change in Europe’s relationship with the United States is epochal.—
Arancha González Laya,
Foreign Affairs,
12 May 2025
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Pember’s journalism and advocacy, along with that of a growing number of writers and activists, both Native and not, are making clear the scope and impact of one major pillar of this epochal injustice.—
Charles Arrowsmith,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Rookies Willie MacIver and Logan Davidson drove in three of the A’s five runs, with Davidson scoring the tying run during a decisive eighth inning rally before MacIver’s RBI-single scored the go-ahead run.—
Chris Biderman,
Sacbee.com,
26 May 2025
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This is not a rivalry that fans will be talking about 10 years from now, but after Priest’s decisive and somewhat surprising victory at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, both Priest and McIntyre are still strongly positioned as cornerstones of the main event picture.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Other pictures and clips showed the teenager with some of his fellow prom-goers and a large shot of the entire class celebrating the momentous occasion.—
Kayla Grant,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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The foursome chipped into a momentous worst-to-first reversal for the Tar Heels.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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The bullpen gave up the lead on the first pitch, and then three more in the deciding 10th inning.—
Sam McDowell,
Kansas City Star,
27 Mar. 2025
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Travis weeks earlier cited as the deciding and unprecedented factor.—
Chris Vannini,
The Athletic,
9 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Watershed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watershed. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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