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 But serious dive watch geeks right now are busy marveling at a new technical masterstroke: the compression ring within the Ringlock system in this new piece—the part of the watch’s architecture that equips it to withstand depths of up to 3,900 meters—is now crafted from ceramic. Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 9 Apr. 2024 Iger has never been afraid to take bold leaps to expand the flywheel, with masterstrokes such as Disney’s new $1.5 billion investment in video game maker Epic Games. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024 One of those procedures is the Trifecta Perfecta - a masterstroke of aesthetic harmony. Nick Kasmik, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024 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

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 25 Apr. 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!