masterstroke

noun

mas·​ter·​stroke ˈma-stər-ˌstrōk How to pronounce masterstroke (audio)
: a masterly performance or move

Examples of masterstroke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Los Blancos pulled off a masterstroke in late 2022 when seeing off competiton from a number of European giants to Palmeiras prodigy Endrick. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Amid the bacchanalia, Tiffany was preparing his masterstroke. Robert Klara, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 By any measure, Cohen’s masterstroke stands as one of the sport’s shrewdest hires in recent memory. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024 The decision to partner with OpenAI was a masterstroke, foreseeing the AI revolution before others, and positioning Microsoft ahead of its competitors. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2024 His risky decision not to appear on the debate stage looks, in retrospect, like a political masterstroke. Matthew Continetti, National Review, 5 Jan. 2024 Whether this realization is a masterstroke of genius that explains the mechanism for backward causality or an admission that the future’s influence on the past can never fully be proven is open to debate. Zeeya Merali, Discover Magazine, 18 Apr. 2023 But it’s always been an entertaining show, fueled by the masterstroke of imbuing L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s story with a Motown vibe. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2023 Its most impressive feature was the color-coding of the four then-existent lines, a masterstroke of simplicity and accessibility. Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masterstroke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of masterstroke was in 1679

Dictionary Entries Near masterstroke

Cite this Entry

“Masterstroke.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterstroke. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on masterstroke

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!