masterstroke
Stroke of genius
A masterstroke is a supremely skillful action or decision that achieves a decisive result.
The term suggests a single, well-timed move that demonstrates mastery: Hiring her away from the competition was a masterstroke.
The word often appears in strategic contexts—business, politics, chess—where one brilliant maneuver changes everything.
Risky opening for advantage
- maneuverDeliberate tactical movement
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- ployCalculated deceptive tactic
- stratagemDeceptive plan for advantage
tactic · countermove · checkmate · power play · outflanking · calculated risk · endgame · feint
Person of rare brilliance
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- tour de forceExceptional feat of skill
brainwave · innovation · cleverness · insight · wizardry · artistry · virtuosity · creativity
Defeating an opponent
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- clincherFact that settles matters
coup de grâce · glory · supremacy · dominance · ascendancy · champion · crowning moment · pinnacle
Point of greatest intensity
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- crowning momentSupreme point of success
- capstoneTopmost stone of structure
- apexUppermost point or culmination
pinnacle · crescendo · denouement · finishing touch · pièce de résistance · swan song · magnum opus · crowning glory
gambit
Risky opening for advantage
stratagem · tactic · countermove · checkmate · power play · outflanking · calculated risk · endgame · feint · outmaneuvering
genius
Person of rare brilliance
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
- ingenuityClever, original thinking
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
tour de force · brainwave · innovation · cleverness · insight · wizardry · artistry · virtuosity · creativity · originality
victory
Defeating an opponent
- conquestDefeating and seizing control
- crowning achievementGreatest success attained
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
clincher · coup de grâce · glory · supremacy · dominance · ascendancy · champion · crowning moment · pinnacle · zenith
climax
Point of greatest intensity
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- crowning momentSupreme point of success
- capstoneTopmost stone of structure
apex · pinnacle · crescendo · denouement · finishing touch · pièce de résistance · swan song · magnum opus · crowning glory · coup de grâce
- featsfeat, stunt, exploit, daring feat, deed
- Winning Movescoup, winning move, checkmate, game-winner, clutch play
- winning strategiesvictory, triumph, winning, checkmate, conquest
- Slang Successnail it, crush it, kill it, slay, smash it
- Sports Resultswin, championship, first place, second place, victory
- victorieschampionship, trophy, gold medal, first place, cup
masterstrokefatal error
Unrecoverable computing malfunction
debacle · fiasco · own goal · strategic blunder · disaster