quintessential

adjective

ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl How to pronounce quintessential (audio)
Definition of quintessentialnext
as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quintessential Burton gets back on track After a rough stretch of recent games, point guard Veronica Burton was quintessential in Sunday’s win. — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 June 2026 This one in particular is quintessential to the Haitian and Dominican diaspora. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 There's nothing more quintessential to being a kid than playing Little League baseball, but on July Fourth, 2025, along with so much more, the Little League fields of Hill Country were destroyed, along with the innocence of thousands of kids who live here. — Bo Evans, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Most recently, Danson has starred in the Netflix comedy series, A Man on the Inside and has played himself in the quintessential comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which recently concluded its 12th and final season on HBO. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for quintessential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessential
  1. classic
  2. exemplary
  3. perfect
  4. archetypal
  5. definitive
  6. excellent
Adjective
  • Below are nine recipes featured in the special, offering everything from classic barbecue favorites to regional dishes inspired by communities across the country.
    — Staff, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Here, instead of the mustard that’s included in many classic potato salad recipes, sour cream, vinegar, and briny pickles team up to lend a lovely amount of tartness to cut through the richness of the potatoes, eggs, and mayo.
    — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 July 2026
Definition of classic
Adjective
  • Supporters cite her exemplary conduct and family separation, while critics emphasize strict penalties for white-collar crime.
    — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The state specifies that exemplary damages are capped at the greater of either $200,000 or two times the amount of economic damages plus an amount equal to non-economic damages, not to exceed $750,000.
    — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
Definition of exemplary
Adjective
  • In comparison, the Sparks, without an offensive rebound until the end of the third quarter, were forced to make perfect shots, though that was far from the team’s grasp.
    — Liana Handler, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • While no missile defense system offers perfect protection, modern layered architectures have significantly improved the ability to detect, track, and intercept increasingly sophisticated threats.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026
Definition of perfect
Adjective
  • Lestat remembers himself like a bit of an archetypal fairytale babe in the woods in the recounting of his human life.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Just over two miles south of the historic village of Tintagel, Trebarwith is a wild, archetypal north‑coast beach—a mile‑long sweep of golden sand and rocky outcrops visible only at low tide.
    — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of archetypal
Adjective
  • There are no definitive statistics about how many students are affected by state bans.
    — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • In 1868, at the age of 29, John Muir arrived in San Francisco via steamship with definitive plans to wander and revel in the natural wonders of California—he’d heard of the Golden State’s geographic riches and wanted to see them for himself.
    — Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Definition of definitive
Adjective
  • While San Francisco’s bullpen is struggling, Rogers is in the midst of another excellent season after signing a three-year, $37 million deal to join the defending American League champions.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • Guests can borrow, for no charge, one of four Mate e-bikes for spins around the park or beyond, say to Tanimachi nearby for local neighborhood vibes, including charming izakayas, gyoza shops, and excellent, one-woman restaurants such as Tachiaoi.
    — Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026
Definition of excellent

Browse Nearby Words

quintessences
quintessential
quintet
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Cite this Entry

“Quintessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessential. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on quintessential

Nglish: Translation of quintessential for Spanish Speakers

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