SINCE 1828
masterstroke
noun
mas·ter·stroke
| \ -ˌstrōk
\
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Definition of masterstroke
: a masterly performance or move
Examples of masterstroke in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His financial masterstroke was to spin off racing-car maker Ferrari in 2015, allowing it to attract a valuation in line with the luxury-goods sector. — Stephen Wilmot, WSJ, "Sergio Marchionne Set a High Bar for What Is Possible in the Auto Industry," 25 July 2018 Other commentators see Moscow’s gambit, born of opportunism and executed ruthlessly, as a masterstroke. — Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, "Russia stays in the driver’s seat in Syria," 10 July 2018 The transfer proved a masterstroke for Ferguson, in the short term, at least. — Rory Smith, New York Times, "On Sánchez, City Passes and United Strikes," 19 Jan. 2018 His game-winning score was a masterstroke—a fake spike to set up a 10-yard lob to Jordan Lasley with 43 seconds left that seemed to catch Texas A&M’s defense napping. — The Si Staff, SI.com, "The Best Meaningless Games of the 2017 College Football Season," 25 May 2018 Belgium's star-laden Red Devils took Brazil by storm with a tactical masterstroke and a first-half counterattack, then possessed the nous to fight off a mighty rally, booking the nation's first World Cup semifinal place in 32 years. — Jonathan Wilson, SI.com, "Belgium's Golden Generation Shines Brightest in Ousting Brazil From World Cup," 6 July 2018 Going with a player like DiVincenzo, who thrived in a winning culture and is more of a sure thing in several regards might be a masterstroke. — Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times, "2018 N.B.A. Draft Results: Analysis of Every Pick in Round 1," 21 June 2018 Byrne’s American Utopia Tour is a visual and musical masterstroke. — Bill Brownlee, kansascity, "David Byrne's utopic show at Kauffman Center had everyone dancing," 8 June 2018 The real masterstroke, though, was the decision to perform live before a large audience at the Marcy Avenue Armory in Brooklyn. — Noel Murray, New York Times, "Review: In ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ an Old Story for (Yet Another) New Millennium," 2 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'masterstroke.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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