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Synonyms

chef-d'oeuvre

American  
[she--vruh] / ʃɛˈdœ vrə /

noun

plural

chefs-d'oeuvre
  1. a masterpiece, especially in art, literature, or music.


chef-d'oeuvre British  
/ ʃɛdœvrə /

noun

  1. a masterpiece

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of chef-d'oeuvre

Borrowed into English from French around 1610–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Thirty-five years after "Die Hard" hit theaters, the Bruce Willis vehicle maintains its rep as a chef-d'oeuvre due to its perennial relevance.

From Salon • Jul. 18, 2023

Frears’ chef-d’oeuvre has everything: accessibly rooted in a true story, it has a powerful but controlled display of emotions, is tempered with poignancy and wit, and has great performances from stars and supporting cast.

From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2020

UCLA's Center for the Art of Performance is presenting Mac's chef-d'oeuvre, "A 24-Decade History of Popular Music," in a four-show series at the Theatre at Ace Hotel beginning Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2018

Still, I couldn’t help thinking that I’d already attended this party, the centerpiece of Bard SummerScape’s callow adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s “Master and Margarita,” the chef-d’oeuvre of Russian literature from the age of Stalin.

From New York Times • Jul. 19, 2013

St. Stephen's, Wallbrook, is generally considered the chef-d'oeuvre of Sir Christopher Wren.

From London in Modern Times or, Sketches of the English Metropolis during the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries. by Unknown