How to Use masterstroke in a Sentence

masterstroke

noun
  • Once in a while, the to-and-fro produces a comedic masterstroke.
    — Wesley Morris, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2020
  • The switch from the diamond to the ice proved to be a masterstroke.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2022
  • But the real masterstroke comes in the first sketch's preview of a future episode.
    — Andy Hoglund, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2022
  • Neymar’s touch — a deft backheel on the run to drop it behind him — was the masterstroke there.
    — Rory Smith, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2020
  • The masterstroke, though, was to turn the library’s old appendage into its new heart.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 4 June 2021
  • The uniform proved a masterstroke.
    — Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The move became a masterstroke.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026
  • The groove alone would be enough to earn this joyous masterstroke a spot on any countdown of Prince's finest hours.
    — Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 27 June 2024
  • Indeed, a team-up between the two icons would be perceived as a brilliant masterstroke.
    — Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026
  • The transfer proved a masterstroke for Ferguson, in the short term, at least.
    — Rory Smith, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2018
  • In ten years, Beijing may see this not as a masterstroke but a misadventure.
    — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022
  • From this perspective, the deal was a masterstroke of diplomacy.
    — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 14 May 2018
  • But the real masterstroke wasn’t just the head-to-toe linen on a baking hot day, but Pitt’s loose-fitting, brown linen skirt.
    — Liam Hess, Vogue, 19 July 2022
  • The choice was a political masterstroke that showed the value of world leaders who live like their constituents.
    — Natasha Frost, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • While at the State Department, Krach pulled off a masterstroke.
    — Virginia Heffernan, WIRED, 21 Mar. 2023
  • But not everyone sees the port expansion as a strategic masterstroke.
    — Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
  • This was one of the first real shockers, a decisive masterstroke that stunned the Broncos.
    — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Dec. 2021
  • Initially, Eddie played the piano and drums, but his shift to the guitar proved a masterstroke.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 9 Oct. 2020
  • In hindsight, making the character so toothless in the debut episode was a masterstroke.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • By any measure, Cohen’s masterstroke stands as one of the sport’s shrewdest hires in recent memory.
    — Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024
  • Pairing Shyamalan with the Blumhouse crew was a masterstroke.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 July 2021
  • Pairing Shyamalan with the Blumhouse crew was a masterstroke.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 26 July 2021
  • The Lebedevs promptly made the title free, a decision that proved to be a masterstroke.
    — Ed Caesar, Esquire, 15 Sep. 2017
  • The host’s pure masterstroke of Survivor weirdness, however, came not on the island but in the studio.
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
  • While the club will need a longer term solution in a couple of years’ time, Eriksen has been a masterstroke of a signing on a free transfer.
    — Liam Canning, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2023
  • Rivers' masterstroke however came on fourth-and-4 from the Houston 39-yard line.
    — Jim Ayello, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Dec. 2020
  • The trade for Caruso was a masterstroke as well, especially since the Thunder didn’t have to give up any draft picks in the deal.
    — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Chris’ contextualization of the narration with just George’s voice and mine was a bit of a masterstroke.
    — Lily Moayeri, Spin, 7 Aug. 2023
  • He was quickly converted and Williams' decision to broaden her horizons proved to be a masterstroke.
    — Aimee Lewis, CNN, 11 July 2017
  • Appointing Campbell as head coach in 2023 was a masterstroke.
    — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'masterstroke.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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