pinnacle

The point when someone or something is most successful or achieves the most.

• This victory was the pinnacle of his career.
• She reached the pinnacle of success at thirty.
• Many players regard an Olympic medal as the pinnacle of sporting achievement.

How to use it: the pinnacle of something (Winning the award was the pinnacle of her career.)

Similar words: peak, high point, zenith

Opposites: low point, nadir

Common phrases: pinnacle of success, reach the pinnacle, career pinnacle

The very top of something.

• Snow covered the mountain's pinnacle.
• We finally reached the pinnacle of the ridge.
• From the pinnacle, she could see the entire valley.

How to use it: the pinnacle of something (A flag flew from the pinnacle of the tower.)

Similar words: top, peak, summit

Opposites: bottom, base

Common phrases: the pinnacle, pinnacle of something

A tall, narrow rock or mountain with a sharp, rough top.

• A tall pinnacle rose above the valley.
• The climbers rested beside a jagged rock pinnacle.
• Wind has shaped these sandstone pinnacles over thousands of years.

Similar words: spire, crag

Common phrases: rock pinnacle, sandstone pinnacle, jagged pinnacle

A small pointed tower used to decorate the top of a building or one of its supports.

• A stone pinnacle tops each buttress.
• The cathedral's pinnacles need urgent repairs.
• Workers replaced the damaged pinnacle above the west window.

Common phrases: gothic pinnacle, stone pinnacle, decorative pinnacle

To put someone or something on a high, pointed top.

• They pinnacled the statue on the tower.
• The builder pinnacled a golden bird on the roof.
• The story describes a giant who pinnacles his victims on mountain peaks.

How to use it: pinnacle someone/something on something (The sculptor pinnacled the figure on a narrow stone peak.)

Similar words: perch

Common phrases: pinnacle something, pinnacle someone

To add small pointed towers to a building or its supports.

• The architect chose to pinnacle the tower.
• Builders pinnacled the church's outer supports.
• They plan to pinnacle both gables with carved stone ornaments.

Common phrases: pinnacle a tower, pinnacle a buttress