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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There's no exact cause known for the rise in cancers among young people, according to experts, but researchers are trying to figure it out.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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Overall, however, experts say there is little regulatory oversight for baby foods sold in the United States.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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They were carved with patriotic love by a Texas sculptor who studied in Paris under a French modern master and envisioned as the polished centerpieces of a $10 million park, but now sit in a Virginia field as an offbeat, reservations-only, roadside tourist draw.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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Rick likens his son’s interactions with the media to those of Bill Belichick, the legendary football coach and master of the monosyllabic press conference.—
Tom Kludt,
Vanity Fair,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In the face of widespread pessimism about the political fate of the United States and growing political polarization, scholars and citizens across the country are reimagining how American democracy could better serve the needs of the whole population.—
Jennifer Lynn McCoy,
The Conversation,
11 Feb. 2026
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Obviously, as a scholar of the reality-television arts and sciences, this final reason is the most interesting to me.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 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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For years, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has been a wizard at designing blitzes that fool quarterbacks.—
Sam McDowell
February 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
-
That was until April 2016, when Universal Studios Hollywood unveiled its own 200-foot-tall Hogwarts castle inspired by the beloved wizard.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Beside me stood Laura, our trumpet virtuoso, a freshman who played with silky sophistication.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
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Just like any virtuoso, Greenberg needs a stage.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The Vanguard Award was bestowed upon Emmy-nominated make up artist Michael Johnston, a pioneering force in children’s and teen television for more than three decades.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Rama Duwaji is New York’s first lady, an artist, illustrator, and bona fide fashion girl.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Brad Inman, the real-estate entrepreneur–turned–longevity guru who founded Livelong Media questions whether Kottikollon’s resources can sustain a global network.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
14 Feb. 2026
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And in consulting with Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s draft guru, at least one of these picks might have been a little too optimistic.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Past master.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past%20master. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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