WATERSHED Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

watershed 1 of 2

noun

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌshed

Definition of watershed

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

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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

About 4 million acres in California are affected, including watersheds of the American, Rubicon and Yuba rivers. — Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Take, for example, the watershed that runs down Clear Creek Canyon below Lookout Mountain, Mount Vernon and Rainbow Hill. — Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 27 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The utility has spent $96 million since 2010 to restore forests in this region, including spraying some pines in hopes of protecting them from infestation, said Madelene McDonald, its watershed planning manager. — Jennifer Oldham, Denver Post, 8 Oct. 2026 The bombing became a watershed moment in the era’s violent conflicts between employers and organized labor. — The Learning Network, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for watershed

Recent Examples of Synonyms for watershed

Noun

Other manufacturers have reported hourly production targets, weekly output figures, and cumulative production milestones.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
This is a milestone season for Abbott Elementary, which will hit its 100th episode around the fall finale.

— Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of milestone

Adjective

Castillo flashed a big smile Friday after playing a pivotal role in Yorkville’s 21-7 win at home over Oswego East.

— Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Tagovailoa threw the game-ending interception, leaving Penix’s status for a pivotal Week 6 meeting with the Chicago Bears uncertain.

— Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of pivotal

Noun

The climax of Lukas Moodysson’s A Hole in My Heart (2004), where Geko vomits into Tess’s open mouth?

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Few scenes articulate that difference in social standing better than the ball that takes place at the climax of the film.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of climax

Noun

A couple of Frisco landmarks appear in the teaser like the city’s water tower and the Sandman Signature Plano-Frisco Hotel.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Oct. 2026
The Fifth Avenue hotel, which has stood for more than 119 years, will close for at least four years beginning next January to restore the 18-story building's landmark facade, according to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the operator of the Plaza.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of landmark

Adjective

If Bass’ vow to rule the same as before represents a decisive leader, more and more Angelenos seem to be saying, give us the Raman flood.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
By afternoon, the Moon trines Mars and your mind gets sharper and more decisive.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decisive

Adjective

There’s little sense of forward motion in these tracks, but even when simply drifting in place, the blend of atmosphere and physicality—sunset glow meets seismic throb—is payoff enough.

— Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026
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

To have measles spreading so aggressively again now, a quarter century after this momentous occasion, is not some unfortunate but unavoidable expression of nature, like an earthquake.

— New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026
That’s part of it, that that can happen, and people are showing their affection for the song to do something so momentous as that.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of momentous

Browse Nearby Words

waters down

watershed

watersheds

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“Watershed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/watershed. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of watershed

noun

adjective

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