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
Yet while Alfa Romeo recently saluted its magnum opus with a new 33 Stradale based on sibling marque Maserati’s MC20 supercar, the R33 from Automotive Artisans is far closer to the original.
—
Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
After years of editing, what was to become Wallace’s magnum opus was published on February 1, 1996.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Jordan, who many feel had his magnum opus with this portrayal of the twins, left without an acting trophy in both ceremonies; a familiar pattern for actors of color.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus, One Battle After Another, continued its winning streak Sunday night, picking up four trophies at the Golden Globes and cementing its status as the front-runner in the Oscar race.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
After years of editing, what was to become Wallace’s magnum opus was published on February 1, 1996.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Jordan, who many feel had his magnum opus with this portrayal of the twins, left without an acting trophy in both ceremonies; a familiar pattern for actors of color.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus, One Battle After Another, continued its winning streak Sunday night, picking up four trophies at the Golden Globes and cementing its status as the front-runner in the Oscar race.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
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Fans familiar with 1985’s beat-tastic, falsetto-fluttery, Technicolor masterpiece Cupid & Psyche 85 may blanch at Songs to Remember’s wispy skeletal attempts at dub and acoustic pop (especially since the album has, until now, been out of print and unavailable on streaming).—
Alfred Soto,
Pitchfork,
11 Apr. 2026
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To tackle Martinez’s crackling masterpiece, or to sip pozole verde and crunch into pescadillas made by Lorenzo’s daughters, isn’t to experience their histories as facsimile.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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