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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Recent Examples of magnum opus
Oppenheimer had its box-office haul, plus the notion that Christopher Nolan had finally made his magnum opus.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The repulsive-yet-beautiful magnum opus that remained has been tangled up in theories about Pasolini’s murder ever since.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025
The result was not just an album, but a cultural touchstone—widely regarded as Blige’s magnum opus.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Because of his experiences with the Bomarc, and his place in American Empire, Pynchon’s magnum opus contains everything from Loony Tunes, to Nazis, to the technical specifications of a German V2 rocket—Pynchon’s Melvillian whale.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
The repulsive-yet-beautiful magnum opus that remained has been tangled up in theories about Pasolini’s murder ever since.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2025
The result was not just an album, but a cultural touchstone—widely regarded as Blige’s magnum opus.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Because of his experiences with the Bomarc, and his place in American Empire, Pynchon’s magnum opus contains everything from Loony Tunes, to Nazis, to the technical specifications of a German V2 rocket—Pynchon’s Melvillian whale.
—Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
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By the turn of the century, Ernst Haeckel had amassed enough drawings to produce his great masterpiece and the single work most associated with his name, Kunstformen der Natur (Art Forms in Nature).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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This Pixar masterpiece is a must-watch for the kiddos during the Halloween season, and adults can appreciate the recognizable voice cast of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi and more.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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