exquisite

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​qui·​site ek-ˈskwi-zət  ik-ˈskwi-zət  ˈek-(ˌ)skwi- 

1

a

: marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution

an exquisite vase

b

: marked by nice discrimination, deep sensitivity, or subtle understanding

exquisite taste

c

: accomplished, perfected

an exquisite gentleman

2

a

: pleasing through beauty, fitness, or perfection

an exquisite white blossom

b

: acute, intense

exquisite pain

c

: having uncommon or esoteric appeal

3

: carefully selected : choice

4

archaic : accurate

exquisitely adverb

exquisiteness noun

exquisite

2 of 2

noun

: one who is overly fastidious in dress or ornament

Synonyms

Adjective

• acute
• almighty
• blistering
• deep
• dreadful
• excruciating
• explosive
• fearful
• fearsome
• ferocious
• fierce
• frightful
• furious
• ghastly
• hard
• heavy
• heavy-duty
• hellacious
• intense
• intensive
• keen
• profound
• terrible
• vehement
• vicious
• violent

Choose the Right Synonym for exquisite

choice, exquisite, elegant, rare, delicate, dainty mean having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste.

choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

Examples of exquisite in a Sentence

Adjective

My dream was … to play smoky ballads of exquisite sweetness and sophistication with somebody like Michelle Pfeiffer leaning misty-eyed over my shoulder. Actually, since this was the middle of the fifties, my fantasy ideal was probably closer to Doris Day. —Daniel C. Dennett, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005

Also on view is one of Poussin's first classical landscape paintings; its exquisite geometry provides fresh insight into why Cézanne was one of this great painter's most passionate admirers. —Evelyn Toynton, Arts & Antiques, February 1996

a move executed with exquisite precision

Her singing voice is truly exquisite.

He chose his words with exquisite care.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This small deciduous tree's exquisite blossoms show up before the leaves each year. —Libby Monteith Minor, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2025

Bryson DeChambeau DeChambeau does little wrong, and he’s been exquisite in every facet this week. —Bennett Conlin, Baltimore Sun, 12 Apr. 2025

Noun

This year, Carol Kane — the chimeric renaissance woman, eternal ingenue, muse to visionaries from Sidney Lumet to Cindy Sherman — rose from the rubble, a mirage made real, in Nathan Silver's exquisite Between the Temples. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 22 Nov. 2024

The songs on our best-of list represent some of the year’s most notable artists (along with a few exquisite below-the-surface players). —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English exquisit, from Latin exquisitus, past participle of exquirere to search out, from ex- + quaerere to seek

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Noun

1819, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

exquisite

adjective

ex·​quis·​ite

ek-ˈskwiz-ət,

ˈek(ˌ)skwiz-

1

: finely done or made

an exquisite lacy handkerchief

an exquisite painting

2

: showing fine discrimination, deep sensitivity, or clear understanding

exquisite taste

3

: pleasing through beauty, fitness, or perfection

exquisite flowers

4

: very severe : intense

exquisite pain

exquisitely adverb

exquisiteness noun

Medical Definition

exquisite

adjective

ex·​qui·​site ik-ˈskwiz-ət  ek- 

: acute sense 2a, intense

exquisite pain

exquisitely

-lē 

adverb