magisterial

adjective mag·is·te·ri·al \ ˌma-jə-ˈstir-ē-əl \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

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Examples: magisterial in a Sentence

Definition of magisterial

1 a (1) : of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a master or teacher : authoritative

(2) : marked by an overbearingly dignified or assured manner or aspect

b : of, relating to, or required for a master's degree

2 : of or relating to a magistrate or a magistrate's office or duties

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magisterially

play \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

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Examples of magisterial in a Sentence

He spoke with a magisterial tone.
a magisterial biography of Thomas Jefferson that has never been superseded

Recent Examples of magisterial from the Web

Ruest also replaced the magisterial district judge who had twice thrown out charges.

— Washington Post, "Sprawling Penn State hazing death case grinds through courts," 8 July 2018
But what was striking was not just his message, of love and inclusion; or his tone, which was soaring and magisterial; or his obvious delight in the matter at hand.

— sarah lyall, New York Times, "Meghan Markle Introduces the British Monarchy to the African-American Experience," 19 May 2018
LitHub has the full essay: A work of art has a magisterial quality about it, a justifying élan which grants virtue to imitation.

— constance grady, Vox, "Clockwork Orange author Anthony Burgess: “art is dangerous”," 2 June 2018
The science of botany and the art of storytelling merge to ingenious effect in Powers’s magisterial new novel — a story in which people are merely the underbrush and the real protagonists are the trees that the human characters encounter.

— New York Times, "11 New Books We Recommend This Week," 19 Apr. 2018
Both novels celebrate an Eleanor Roosevelt who is warm and affectionate, not some humorless do-gooder, and acknowledge their debt to Blanche Wiesen Cook’s magisterial three-volume biography of the first lady.

— sylvia brownrigg, New York Times, "Eleanor Roosevelt’s Love Life, as Fodder for Fiction," 15 May 2018
Groupies, doormen, hippies, astronauts, bankers and frat boys took on a magisterial presence in his writing, and if there was a hint of hypocrisy in their actions, then all the better.

— thomas curwen, sacbee, "Tom Wolfe, novelist and pioneer of New Journalism, dies at 88 | The Sacramento Bee," 15 May 2018
Not so in soloist Paul Jacobs’ magisterial playing of the organ part, which built to a thrilling roar of low pedal sonority in the final pages that must have set off every seismograph in the state.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Violinist Faust, in a brilliant CSO debut, makes convincing case for flawed Schumann rarity," 12 May 2018
When a documentary is as exhaustive, devoted, formally precise and even magisterial as this one, a viewer can’t help getting distracted by what’s missing.

— john anderson, WSJ, "‘Elvis Presley: The Searcher’ Review: Looking for the King," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magisterial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of magisterial

Late Latin magisterialis of authority, from magisterium office of a master, from magister

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1632

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

magisterial Synonyms

Synonyms

authoritative, classic, classical, definitive;

Related Words

conclusive, decisive;

approved, official, sanctioned;

accurate, correct;

complete, comprehensive, exhaustive, thorough;

Synonym Discussion of magisterial

dictatorial, magisterial, dogmatic, doctrinaire, oracular mean imposing one's will or opinions on others. dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

- exercised dictatorial control over the office

magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

- the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

- dogmatic about what is art and what is not

doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

- a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

- a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

MAGISTERIAL Defined for English Language Learners

magisterial

adjective

Definition of magisterial for English Language Learners

: showing impressive knowledge about a subject
: having the confident quality of someone who expects to be obeyed by other people
: of or relating to a magistrate