as in expert
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field
a movie director who was widely regarded as the past master of suspense
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Recent Examples of past master
There is a certainty to her sentences that sets her alongside past masters (your William Trevors, your Anton Chekhovs) and a singular beauty to her observations.
—
Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
Coppola, a past master at directing actors, allows his performers – who include Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, and Nathalie Emmanuel – to shamelessly ham it up.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2024
And he is positioned as the chief foreign luminary at the festival’s anniversary tribute to past master Ozu Yasujiro.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 23 Oct. 2023
The fact that the company is designing a standalone robotaxi speaks to its failures in executing past master plans.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2023
Does this past master of starting crazes see the Reddit phenomenon as a long-overdue democratization of the stock market, or a frenzy detached from the fundamentals of investing?
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2021
Wonder, a past master of love songs, makes a demand that tests the output of every contemporary pop singer and every jaded fan.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Nov. 2020
The locked-room mystery—not just a whodunnit but a how-done-it—pays homage to past masters such as John Dickson Carr and Gaston Leroux.
—The Economist, 18 Dec. 2019
When the ensemble made its first national tour, playing Orchestra Hall in September 1992, Marsalis and friends were trying to show that America needed a world-class jazz orchestra that could honor past masters while forging future ones.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 16 Nov. 2019
Tomi Obaro, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
Coppola, a past master at directing actors, allows his performers – who include Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza, and Nathalie Emmanuel – to shamelessly ham it up.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2024
And he is positioned as the chief foreign luminary at the festival’s anniversary tribute to past master Ozu Yasujiro.
—Mark Schilling, Variety, 23 Oct. 2023
The fact that the company is designing a standalone robotaxi speaks to its failures in executing past master plans.
—Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 28 Feb. 2023
Does this past master of starting crazes see the Reddit phenomenon as a long-overdue democratization of the stock market, or a frenzy detached from the fundamentals of investing?
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2021
Wonder, a past master of love songs, makes a demand that tests the output of every contemporary pop singer and every jaded fan.
—Armond White, National Review, 25 Nov. 2020
The locked-room mystery—not just a whodunnit but a how-done-it—pays homage to past masters such as John Dickson Carr and Gaston Leroux.
—The Economist, 18 Dec. 2019
When the ensemble made its first national tour, playing Orchestra Hall in September 1992, Marsalis and friends were trying to show that America needed a world-class jazz orchestra that could honor past masters while forging future ones.
—Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 16 Nov. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for past master
Noun
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But advocates, experts and community leaders in Florida have raised opposition to the expansion of the 287(g) program.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
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Deepfake abuse is a growing problem at schools across the country, but experts warn that school policies, legal recourse and education lag far behind.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Property masters are now eligible for active voting or associate membership within the Television Academy.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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George graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy and a master’s degree in education with a focus on bilingual instruction.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His words evoke the image of an animal slithering on the ground before growing—an allusion that was likely intended as a gardening pun about reptiles, argues classics scholar Rebecca Armstrong.—
Andrés Muedano,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Mar. 2026
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In fact, scientists and scholars say that development of the carbon-free electricity offshore wind turbines produce is essential to addressing climate change.—
Jennifer McDermott,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Meanwhile, Alouette has become an adept of dye recipes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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Animal physiologist Peter Hansen, a professor at the University of Florida who was not involved with the Veronika research, said he’s unsurprised by her adept handling of tools given the high levels of cognition he’s observed in cows.—
Leslie Katz,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This one just happens to involve wizards, goblins, and one savage, half-blind dragon.—
Séamas O'Reilly,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
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Potterheads across the globe will instantly recognize Harry’s not-so-homely house on Privet Drive, his cramped excuse of a bedroom and the endless disdain oozing from the young wizard’s unloving aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Also appearing on the album are American composer Elliot Cole on synthesizer, French composer Benoit Rolland on electro-acoustics and Bangladeshi tabla virtuoso Mir Naqibul Islam.—
Arts Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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The popular hits will be performed by a 20-piece orchestra, with arrangements written by Juilliard cello virtuoso Dave Eggar and conductor Chuck Palmer.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The night before, Justin, the martial artist, had thrown off his pack during the final ruck.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
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The goal of the Spanish architect and artist was to retrace a historic 1,200-mile voyage.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On Sunday, their eighth tying goal in the final two minutes of a match gave them two more than any other team has had through 70 games in NHL history, per public relations guru Alex Gilchrist.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Mar. 2026
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And that could, by the end of this month, require Riley, Elisburg, draft guru Adam Simon and the ownership wing of Micky Arison and Nick Arison to take the long view.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Past master.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past%20master. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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