as in masterpiece
something (as a work of art) that is a great achievement and often its creator's greatest achievement
this symphony is usually considered Beethoven's magnum opus
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Recent Examples of magnum opus
Yet while Alfa Romeo recently saluted its magnum opus with a new 33 Stradale based on sibling marque Maserati’s MC20 supercar, the R33 from Automotive Artisans is far closer to the original.
—
Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
After years of editing, what was to become Wallace’s magnum opus was published on February 1, 1996.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Jordan, who many feel had his magnum opus with this portrayal of the twins, left without an acting trophy in both ceremonies; a familiar pattern for actors of color.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus, One Battle After Another, continued its winning streak Sunday night, picking up four trophies at the Golden Globes and cementing its status as the front-runner in the Oscar race.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
After years of editing, what was to become Wallace’s magnum opus was published on February 1, 1996.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Jordan, who many feel had his magnum opus with this portrayal of the twins, left without an acting trophy in both ceremonies; a familiar pattern for actors of color.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 22 Jan. 2026
Paul Thomas Anderson’s magnum opus, One Battle After Another, continued its winning streak Sunday night, picking up four trophies at the Golden Globes and cementing its status as the front-runner in the Oscar race.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magnum opus
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magnum opus
masterpiece
Noun
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The tour, which was supposed to kick off April 22 in Glasgow, was going to include a complete performance of their 1971 masterpiece Fragile.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2026
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Read on to discover the stories behind the artist’s most fascinating masterpieces.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magnum opus.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magnum%20opus. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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