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
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
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
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
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
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
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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The Biden administration was caught off guard by the brief challenge to South Korea’s democracy, experts say, after the White House invested significant time to forge a landmark security partnership between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 June 2025
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If ordering prepared or prepackaged tacos, opt for those with minimal amounts of sodium, preservatives and artificial ingredients, the experts advised.—
Perri Ormont Blumberg,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2025
Noun
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The master artisan will also assemble an accessory from the BADURA high leather goods collection, deftly using his hands as tools honed through decades of proficiency and techniques steeped in centuries-old traditions.—
Alexandra Kirkman,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Another master’s artistry is on display and open to tours at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, located about two miles east of the museum on the other side of the park.—
David Allan,
CNN Money,
31 May 2025
Noun
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But few scholars have explored another trend: The growing number of people who’ve found that bonding with their pets becomes a spiritual experience.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
8 June 2025
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Utilizing the museum’s world-class library and archives, visitors can explore nearly every region and historic period of Asia and the Islamic world, and scholars will find value in exemplary objects as springboards for research.—
Yola Robert,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Epic Universe is populated with monsters, wizards, dragons and little guys named Mario and Luigi.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2025
-
There are four shops where aspiring wizards and curious muggles can check out — wizarding gear shop Les Galeries Mirifiques, candy shop K. Rammelle, wand shop Baguettes Magique and Ministry of Magic giftshop Tour En Floo.—
Samantha Neely,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Slot shares this staple of Tottenham counterpart Ange Postecoglou’s attacking principles, with Porro adept at tucking inside to disrupt the opposition shape.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The result is that just these English words, representing just this original document, make for a new and somewhat undiscovered book, even to Marxist adepts.—
Benjamin Kunkel,
Harpers Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Instead, this antagonistic virtuoso has started letting the sticky dark feelings fueling those nightmares seep into other genres.—
A.A. Dowd,
Vulture,
20 May 2025
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An ultra-rare 1913 Gibson Style O Acoustic Archtop once played by the two virtuosos is now up for grabs via Reverb, an online marketplace for new and used musical instruments and other goods.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
20 May 2025
Noun
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That hasn’t stopped Simon from claiming credit for other artists’ music.—
Tyler Hicks,
Rolling Stone,
5 June 2025
-
Yesterday, to attend the Billboard Global Power Plays event in London the global artist showed up in an exquisite teal number by Schiaparelli.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
5 June 2025
Noun
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The promo also features longtime anchor Lara Spencer, with her daughter and dogs; weather guru Ginger Zee, visiting a local farmer’s market; Will Reeve with his wife; Rebecca Jarvis with her family; and veteran weather correspondent Sam Champion.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
3 June 2025
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One year out from the 2026 primary, Democratic voters want their next governor to fight Trump, said voter data guru Paul Mitchell.—
Nicole Nixon,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Past master.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past%20master. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
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