1
as in manifestation
the most perfect type or example
the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quintessence
That’s partly because punk, with its assaultive immediacy and defiant not-niceness, now seems like the quintessence of the pre-digital world.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 July 2022
To some, quintessence was a subtle substance found in some degree in each of the other four elements.
—Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
To test whether dark energy is caused by quintessence or the cosmological constant, scientists must determine whether the strength of dark energy has changed over time.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
But Frieman hopes new data may reveal something more exotic, such as a mysterious substance called quintessence, which some scientists have proposed could explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.
—Ramin Skibba, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 July 2022
To some, quintessence was a subtle substance found in some degree in each of the other four elements.
—Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
To test whether dark energy is caused by quintessence or the cosmological constant, scientists must determine whether the strength of dark energy has changed over time.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
But Frieman hopes new data may reveal something more exotic, such as a mysterious substance called quintessence, which some scientists have proposed could explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.
—Ramin Skibba, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessence
Noun
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Eventually there will be a physical manifestation of the Hall, a building somewhere with plaques and memorabilia and exhibits honoring the rich history of sports in Southern California, but that will be at the back end.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Antetokounmpo is the manifestation of the second timeline the Warriors have chased for years.—
Nick Friedell,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Joe’s Stone Crab is as definable of the Miami Beach essence as the city’s distinctive Art Deco along Ocean Drive, its beaches and the Fontainebleau hotel.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
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That being said, when time is of the essence, Winair remains the quickest option—because who wants to waste a single minute of island time?—
Molly Barstein,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Simultaneously, her Uncle walks into Ho Jin’s house, waxing eloquent about his grandfather’s collection of classics.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Lady Gaga revisited a childhood classic for a new Super Bowl commercial.—
Emily Zemler,
Rolling Stone,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Trump is at once a symptom of this disease and its apotheosis, a living representation of all the ways the United States has encouraged, tolerated and rewarded the most selfish and antisocial behaviors imaginable, at least among a certain class of person.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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My winter sojourn reached its apotheosis in the afternoon, when Bergthorsson drove me to Húsafell’s Canyon Baths, a nearby group of geothermal pools, and an extraordinary natural phenomenon.—
Marcia DeSanctis,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Unlike her sister Daphne, Eloise's character is a nonconformist regarding society's ideals of what a woman should be, and her outfits portray that.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
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The crunchy Larkin Poe album embodies the musical slipperiness of Americana as an ideal, a carefree cruise through country, blues, rock, and soul; the Molly Tuttle album brims with the rustic zest of early Sheryl Crow.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The new Kleiner is smaller and more focused than its previous incarnation—more boutique than mega.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Admirers wishing to have a brand-new Alvis can commission an exquisite continuation—a few famous prewar and postwar models are available—from the current incarnation of Alvis Car Company Limited.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That insight helps teams validate digital models earlier in development.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
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The other new entries are DSquared2 (which featured a hot celebrity) and Dolce & Gabbana (which generated heated controversy for its model casting).—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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This showstopper of a dessert mashes up the bold caffeinated flavors of classic tiramisu with the perfectly wobbly, creamy perfection of panna cotta.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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This reduces perfection pressure, increases psychological safety, and brings coworkers into the experimentation instead of waiting for a finished solution.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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