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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While the fires’ causes are still being investigated — and experts, including Nordskog, believe arson is highly unlikely to be behind the biggest blazes — the arrests have put a spotlight on the question of why people deliberately set fires.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN,
3 Feb. 2025
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To start, both experts recommend asking yourself: Was the mistake intentional?—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
3 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Vahe was an English major at the University of Pennsylvania and earned his master’s degree at Mizzou.—
Vahe Gregorian,
Kansas City Star,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Camila graduated from Arizona State University with a master’s degree in mass communication.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacramento Bee,
31 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Most presidents have tried the same thing Historically, most presidents and their advisers – and indeed most scholars – have agreed that government bureaucracy is not designed in ways that promote efficiency.—
Jennifer Selin,
The Conversation,
24 Jan. 2025
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Although a sharp debate broke out among scholars, and the courts soon got involved, the program, in its essence, survived the controversy.—
Stephen L. Carter,
The Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Or a witch or wizard standing over a cauldron concocting life-altering potions.—
Simone Milasas,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Ichiro Suzuki, a wizard of sport and style, nearly cleared both yesterday.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
22 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Around him, dense as a swarm of tiny insects, float tiny images of fellow adepts engaged in all manner of outré shenanigans.—
Holland Cotter,
New York Times,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Naomi Goggin Switch to island time—and expect transportation snafus Even with two planners, and a bride adept at project management, there was one logistical hurdle that was tough to cross: local transportation.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The beloved organ virtuoso died on Tuesday morning at 87, near Woodstock, New York — just a few miles down the road from Big Pink, the house where the Band and Bob Dylan transformed music history just by jamming in the basement.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
21 Jan. 2025
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While Fujii is well-known for singing along to his own virtuoso accompaniment on the piano, his dance performances also showcase his star power.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Holder peppers the frame with visually dynamic work by local artists and the soundtrack with songs from local musicians, adding to the credibility of this portrayal.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2025
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There’s also a Seventies and Eighties contingent, with artists including Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, John Waite, and the band touring as Foreigner, and even a former Beatle: Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band are set to perform.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The lifestyle guru has mastered the art of taking a great thirst trap Comments Martha Stewart is a media mogul, renowned author and mega boss in every aspect.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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Ruf doesn’t claim to be a management guru or life coach.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes,
30 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near past master
Cite this Entry
“Past master.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/past%20master. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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