magnum opus

noun

ˈmag-nəm-ˈō-pəs How to pronounce magnum opus (audio)
Definition of magnum opusnext
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

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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 Now regarded as Paul Simon’s magnum opus, Graceland turns 40 this month—a fitting excuse for AIR MAIL to revisit it. — Air Mail, 1 Aug. 2026 And Kansas City’s 5-1 rout of Louisville Racing FC on Wednesday night may be the team’s magnum opus. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 Smith was already at Primavera to play — The Cure headlined the festival on Friday, their first show since their 2024 magnum opus Songs of a Lost World, one of their best albums ever. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026 Across the lagoon, the domes and facades of St Marks look like a set designer’s magnum opus. — Grace Banks, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
  • Completed just a few decades after the Vatican Observatory, in 1616, Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one the world’s greatest sacred masterpieces.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The sentiment set the table for a record that often suggests what might’ve happened if the band had released a transitional album in 1995, between their debut 1994 alt-rock smash The Blue Album and their 1996 emo-adjacent masterpiece Pinkerton.
    — Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of masterpiece

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Cite this Entry

“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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