masterpiece

noun

mas·​ter·​piece ˈma-stər-ˌpēs How to pronounce masterpiece (audio)
Synonyms of masterpiece
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 of masterpiece

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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.
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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.
The re-emergence of a long-unseen Jean-Michel Basquiat masterpiece is a miracle the art market occasionally performs. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026 Lace was expertly placed with thoughtful trims and underlays to create detailed masterpieces. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2026 The Devils is Russell’s masterpiece, but the rest of his wildly prolific filmography is not far behind. — Juan A. Ramírez, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2026 The Perfect Prescription is Spacemen 3’s masterpiece, an imperfect record made by one of the last holistically perfect groups of the 20th century. — Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026 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

master oscillator
masterpiece
master plan
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Cite this Entry

“Masterpiece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/masterpiece. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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
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