as in classics
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement
Michelangelo's frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are often considered to be his masterpieces
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Recent Examples of masterpieces
The works come from the museum’s large collection of masterpieces of American and European modern art that was acquired by the wife of the former shah in the 1970s.
—
ABC News, 8 May 2026
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Families can rent bikes, head to the heated outdoor pool, or pick up a complimentary sandcastle kit for creating masterpieces on the resort’s beach.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Paintings by Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, Amedeo Modigliani, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud are among the dozens of masterpieces being sold by UK billionaire Joe Lewis and his daughter, Vivienne, at Sotheby’s in London in June.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The last Medici heiress gifted the family collection to the city in the 18th century, so today's visitors can view masterpieces by Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Michelangelo.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Vacheron Constantin’s four métiers d’art watches might just be as stunning as the masterpieces that hang in the Louvre.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
This truly does feel like a movie that will be on someone’s list of underappreciated masterpieces in a few years, so why not see if that someone is you?
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
There are more classics than could be named here, but these eight masterpieces epitomize the decade’s social and political trajectory like no others.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
ABC News, 8 May 2026
Hong Kong icon Tony Leung has channeled brooding urban energy for the masterpieces of Wong Kar-Wai, balancing the debonair ennui of Marcello Mastroianni with the quiet watchfulness of Montgomery Clift.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Families can rent bikes, head to the heated outdoor pool, or pick up a complimentary sandcastle kit for creating masterpieces on the resort’s beach.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 6 May 2026
Paintings by Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, Egon Schiele, Amedeo Modigliani, Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud are among the dozens of masterpieces being sold by UK billionaire Joe Lewis and his daughter, Vivienne, at Sotheby’s in London in June.
—Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The last Medici heiress gifted the family collection to the city in the 18th century, so today's visitors can view masterpieces by Caravaggio, Botticelli, and Michelangelo.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Vacheron Constantin’s four métiers d’art watches might just be as stunning as the masterpieces that hang in the Louvre.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
This truly does feel like a movie that will be on someone’s list of underappreciated masterpieces in a few years, so why not see if that someone is you?
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
There are more classics than could be named here, but these eight masterpieces epitomize the decade’s social and political trajectory like no others.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for masterpieces
Noun
-
Right on the beach is Leon’s at Meads Bay, serving Caribbean classics with South Asian flair, and there’s live music on the weekends.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
The fawn-like icon, star of classics including Roman Holiday, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sabrina, Two for the Road, Charade, Funny Face, and My Fair Lady, continues to fascinate even 33 years after her early death from a rare abdominal cancer.—
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
Noun
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True to her intention, Kouzeh has no tables as of yet, only the counter full of her masterworks, now numbering around 25, with a short menu of coffee and aromatic teas.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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Made from a biodegradable plastic and available in a variety of finishes that include lacquer, bronze, and a stone-like lyme, these armless, headless pieces—which start at $850 and can exceed $5,500 for solid bronze—recall masterworks like the Aphrodite of Cyrene.—
Elizabeth Kiefer,
Architectural Digest,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Masterpieces.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/masterpieces. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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