as in excellent
of the very best kind
a first-string rendition of the musical piece
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Recent Examples of first-string
The Packers did not play their first-string offense.
—
Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
As first-string quarterback Claire Heisinger watched on crutches from the sideline, Addison Kloch, who is an elite golfer, filled in admirably for the Chargers.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Martin, a redshirt sophomore, took first-string snaps in practice, every repetition coveted by a player who has thrown all of five passes in college.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Darnold can surely draw on his scout-team duties against the 49ers’ first-string defense last season and vice versa.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2024
Wednesday’s first-string receivers were Samuel and Chris Conley.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2024
As of now, the first-string edge rushers appear to be Jacob Busic and Devin Aupiu, with Drew Tuazama and Grant Buckey backing them up.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
Puni has been the first-string right guard since the third practice of camp, after Spencer Burford sustained a fractured right hand that has not required surgery.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
Fittingly, Van Roten arrived on a day when Jones and the Giants’ first-string offensive line had a disastrous and discouraging practice, reinforcing the new signing’s need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024
Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 18 Aug. 2024
As first-string quarterback Claire Heisinger watched on crutches from the sideline, Addison Kloch, who is an elite golfer, filled in admirably for the Chargers.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Martin, a redshirt sophomore, took first-string snaps in practice, every repetition coveted by a player who has thrown all of five passes in college.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024
Darnold can surely draw on his scout-team duties against the 49ers’ first-string defense last season and vice versa.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 14 Sep. 2024
Wednesday’s first-string receivers were Samuel and Chris Conley.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2024
As of now, the first-string edge rushers appear to be Jacob Busic and Devin Aupiu, with Drew Tuazama and Grant Buckey backing them up.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2024
Puni has been the first-string right guard since the third practice of camp, after Spencer Burford sustained a fractured right hand that has not required surgery.
—Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2024
Fittingly, Van Roten arrived on a day when Jones and the Giants’ first-string offensive line had a disastrous and discouraging practice, reinforcing the new signing’s need.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 30 July 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for first-string
Adjective
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With its affordable price, this coverlet is an excellent value for the quality.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
17 Feb. 2025
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Lucas Bergvall and Dejan Kulusevski are excellent at carrying the ball and driving into space.—
Jay Harris,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Warren is the more physically dominant prospect, while Loveland is an elite route runner and terrific receiver at 240-plus pounds.—
Nick Baumgardner,
The Athletic,
18 Feb. 2025
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John Magaro is terrific as Jarrett, a once-in-a-generation talent who was sleep-deprived, suffering from acute back pain and disdainful of the inferior instrument on which he was expected to perform.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This leaves a stellar remnant with between one and two times the mass of the sun condensed into a width of around 12 miles (20 kilometers).—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
State of play: The soccer rivalry between the Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders is the stuff of legend, fueled in part by both teams having some stellar seasons to look back on.—
Melissa Santos,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Viticulture here is organic, the wines themselves offer superb structure and typicity.—
Tom Hyland,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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Mary Elizabeth Williams, a soprano with a strong lower extension, was mesmerizing in the title role, her superb diction giving emotional edge to a sometimes wooden text.—
Alex Ross,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Those extra hours—for fewer rewards—can contribute to women’s greater fatigue, health problems, and burnout.—
Michelle Travis,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Neither of them were the person who issued the bounty, which came from Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit, husband of all-time tennis great Serena Williams and a lifelong Commanders fan, less than a week before Carrion pulled the card.—
Larry Holder,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Parker Hall The Best MagSafe Accessories for Your New iPhone The weird, wonderful world of MagSafe accessories can make your smartphone feel modular.—
Julian Chokkattu,
WIRED,
20 Feb. 2025
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One pole of the action is the Green Dolphin Hotel, where Hezekiah and Alec finally find a place to land, and where Hezekiah’s ability to speak Chinese, a legacy from a Chinese grandmother, endears him to the proprietor, Mr. Lao (Jason Tobin, quiet and wonderful); some Elephants are around as well.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Oahu’s prime location in the Pacific fosters an intriguing cultural mix, where traditional Hawaiian customs blend harmoniously with Asian influences, surpassing typical tropical experiences.—
Angela Lei,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
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To force either Devers or Guerrero to move to DH while still at the beginning of their prime years doesn’t make sense either.—
Jim Bowden,
The Athletic,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The set features a lovely pattern of yellow and teal flowers with deep sage green leaves and detailing around the edge.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2025
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Within its pages is a lovely story of the neverending struggle between security and new technology that provides a useful backdrop to current events: in particular, the Chinese hacking of the American telecommunications infrastructure.—
David G.W. Birch,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“First-string.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/first-string. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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