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.
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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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For 60 years running, its jury of experts has picked the most stunning shots to win and earn accolades.Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
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Legal experts stress the importance of maintaining public confidence in the judicial process while balancing the operational needs of the presidency.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Most of The Row’s handbags skip the flash of any hardware, but this rare jewel masters the art of glamorous ease with its metal fastening.Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 7 Jan. 2025
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Wright holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in emergency management and homeland security and is a graduate of the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University in Illinois.Tom Sissom, arkansasonline.com, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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As technology improves and allows better reading of the manuscript, scholars continue to debate the content of the document and how the fragments should be put together in the hopes of gaining even more insight into Hellenic religion and philosophy of the time.Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Jan. 2025
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Michael Wara, an energy and climate scholar at Stanford University, said the state’s entire insurance landscape, not just the California’s wildfire fund, might have to be recalibrated if a utility company were found to have caused a major L.A. fire.Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The 38-year-old offensive wizard led the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL during the regular season at 33.2 points per game.Vincent Frank, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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The software's setup wizard asks about income first and then moves on to credits, deductions, and taxes.PCMAG, PCMAG, 2 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
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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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In today's job market, choosing between being a virtuoso or polymath is like choosing between a chef's knife and a Swiss Army knife - one perfectly crafted for a specific purpose, the other ready for anything.Ann Kirschner, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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Zakir Hussain, virtuoso of the tabla instrument and a towering figure in Indian classical music, died on Dec. 15 of chronic lung disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, at a hospital in San Francisco.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Headlining the event is Faye Toogood, the multidisciplinary British artist who has been named M&O Designer of the Year 2025.Kissa Castaneda, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
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Gordy was hesitant to let artists try to send a message with their music.Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Hairstylist Kevin Kelly and makeup guru Darian Marie Horn gave Rachel a glam look, her dark locks pulled back in a relaxed updo with flowing waves and her cheeks and lips kissed with the softest of pinks.Dave Quinn, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025
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And while some fans and film gurus will say the offense looked better under interim coordinator Scott Turner and his father Norv, the facts are the facts: The Raiders averaged 17.9 points in nine games with Getsy and 17.6 in eight games with Turner, who had a healthier offensive line.Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 5 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 20 Jan. 2025.
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