masterpiece
noun
mas·ter·piece
ˈma-stər-ˌpēs 
1
: a work done with extraordinary skill
especially
: a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement
2
: a piece of work presented to a medieval guild as evidence of qualification for the rank of master
Examples of masterpiece in a Sentence
The painting was immediately recognized as a masterpiece.
Herman Melville's masterpiece was Moby-Dick.
Her study of apes is a masterpiece.
Recent Examples on the Web
But for every Stephen Sondheim masterpiece there’s a barrage of jukebox and movie musicals eager to cash in on the forgiving nostalgia of theatergoers.
—
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
If the demands weren’t met, all 19 masterpieces would be destroyed on May 14.
—Theresa McKinney, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
Manchester City Bends the Story to Its Will This season’s City might be Pep Guardiola’s coaching masterpiece: a juggernaut so fearsome that not even Hollywood writers dared suggest it could be beaten.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Since its inception in 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been heralded as a masterpiece in American design and a cultural hallmark.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
The film is a masterpiece, crackling with wit and positively oozing charm.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2024
And just like that, a grass-roots, gender-neutral masterpiece was born.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
The destination’s popularity is no shocker, really—Ciudad de México (CDMX) is one of the world’s greatest epicenters of culture, with architectural masterpieces, innovative cuisine, and a lively art scene that all contribute to the tapestry of the capital’s rich history.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Not all of the 10 plays in August Wilson’s 20th century cycle are masterpieces.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
If the demands weren’t met, all 19 masterpieces would be destroyed on May 14.
—Theresa McKinney, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2024
Manchester City Bends the Story to Its Will This season’s City might be Pep Guardiola’s coaching masterpiece: a juggernaut so fearsome that not even Hollywood writers dared suggest it could be beaten.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Since its inception in 1954, Fontainebleau Miami Beach has been heralded as a masterpiece in American design and a cultural hallmark.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 19 Apr. 2024
The film is a masterpiece, crackling with wit and positively oozing charm.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 17 Apr. 2024
And just like that, a grass-roots, gender-neutral masterpiece was born.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 15 Apr. 2024
The destination’s popularity is no shocker, really—Ciudad de México (CDMX) is one of the world’s greatest epicenters of culture, with architectural masterpieces, innovative cuisine, and a lively art scene that all contribute to the tapestry of the capital’s rich history.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Apr. 2024
Not all of the 10 plays in August Wilson’s 20th century cycle are masterpieces.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masterpiece.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Masterpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterpiece. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
masterpiece
noun
mas·ter·piece
ˈmas-tər-ˌpēs
: a work done with great skill
especially
: a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement
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