masterpiece

noun

mas·​ter·​piece ˈma-stər-ˌpēs How to pronounce masterpiece (audio)
Synonyms of masterpiecenext
1
: a work done with extraordinary skill
especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement
2
: a piece of work presented to a medieval guild as evidence of qualification for the rank of master

Synonyms

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Examples of masterpiece in a Sentence

The painting was immediately recognized as a masterpiece. Herman Melville's masterpiece was Moby-Dick. Her study of apes is a masterpiece.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Someone else whose very existence was a masterpiece declared all art quite useless. — Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 This Side of the Island is a more concise and conceptual effort, compared to his last full-length, 2020’s The Loves of Your Life, which is a masterpiece of musical storytelling. — Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025 At the heart of the home, the chef’s kitchen is a true masterpiece of design and function. — Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025 But McTiernan's action-horror masterpiece has more on its mind than cheap thrills. — Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for masterpiece

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of masterpiece was in 1600

Rhymes for masterpiece

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Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Masterpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterpiece. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

masterpiece

noun
mas·​ter·​piece ˈmas-tər-ˌpēs How to pronounce masterpiece (audio)
: a work done with great skill
especially : a supreme intellectual or artistic achievement

More from Merriam-Webster on masterpiece

Nglish: Translation of masterpiece for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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