as in masterpiece
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement
this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of magnum opus
But maybe that’s the ultimate victory: By the end, Cruise and McQuarrie manage to wrestle back their magnum opus from the grubby little cyberpaws of the Lord of Lies.
—
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025
But their magnum opus was 1978’s Dub Housing, where Thomas shows off his collection of animal noises, grunts, yelps, and screeches, up to his neck in industrial synth-and-guitar factory noise.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Their magnum opus, Dark Side of the Moon (1973), only hit No. 2.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 9 May 2025
Photo: Warner Bros/Everett Collection Blanchett didn’t really have all that much to do in Peter Jackson’s dual magnum opuses, other than be extraordinarily lit.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 May 2025
But their magnum opus was 1978’s Dub Housing, where Thomas shows off his collection of animal noises, grunts, yelps, and screeches, up to his neck in industrial synth-and-guitar factory noise.
—Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 Apr. 2025
Their magnum opus, Dark Side of the Moon (1973), only hit No. 2.
—Thomas Smith, Billboard, 9 May 2025
Photo: Warner Bros/Everett Collection Blanchett didn’t really have all that much to do in Peter Jackson’s dual magnum opuses, other than be extraordinarily lit.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
-
First, was the Demna retrospective of his visionary fashion masterpieces during his reign at Balenciaga.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
30 June 2025
-
Restoration, re-releases: Wong Kar Wai’s romantic masterpiece In The Mood For Love from Janus Films opens at the IFC Center and Film at Lincoln Center this weekend, at L.A.’s Laemmle Royal and Glendale next.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share