1
as in nature
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
the belief that power ultimately rests with the people is the very essence of democracy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in core
the central part or aspect of something under consideration
presented the essence of weeks of testimony in a 20-minute appeal to the jury
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of essence
The essence of everything in life.
—
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Still, its quiet exemplified the elusive essence of peace.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Robert Bresson, in seeking the essence of sin and grace in the slightest gesture, largely eschewed professionals in order to distill performance to embodiment.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Established in 2016 by model and creative director Jeanne Damas, Rouje was born out of a desire to capture the essence of effortless Parisian dressing.
—Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essence
Rachel Handler, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Still, its quiet exemplified the elusive essence of peace.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Robert Bresson, in seeking the essence of sin and grace in the slightest gesture, largely eschewed professionals in order to distill performance to embodiment.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Established in 2016 by model and creative director Jeanne Damas, Rouje was born out of a desire to capture the essence of effortless Parisian dressing.
—Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
Noun
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Jim O’Connor, ValenSil’s buyer and hiring manager, attributed the production drop-off to the steep tariffs on inputs like aluminum and the heavily unpredictable nature of how they’ve been implemented.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
With the mission to enable all humans to live a more connected, conscious, and adventurous life, adidas TERREX combines high-performance technologies with fashion-forward designs to weather the forces of nature and inspire every human being to find their own summits.—
Ally Jaksen,
Outside,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The project recently received air turbine units, generators, electric motors, molten salt storage tanks, and other core equipment from Shanghai Electric.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
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Some of the administrators may focus on administering the obesity benefits to employees, dealing with core functions such as enrollment, eligibility, claims and more.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But the truth here is that that divide was really more about style than substance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Naloxone, the active drug in Narcan, is only effective on opioids and not on stimulants like cocaine, which would suggest the substance Dick used was adulterated with an opiate such as fentanyl.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our ambition here is to continue to celebrate the creativity at Burberry’s heart.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Mojdeh Khaghan, a Jewish-Iranian American who fled Iran with her family in 1979, said her heart bleeds for the Iranian people.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Protect domestic rhythms to nurture your soul.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
All of Mabel’s new forest friends—there are deer, rabbits, turtles, raccoons, and a singularly gloomy bear—bow down to a beaver sovereign, King George (Bobby Moynihan), a gregarious and naïve soul who embraces a humble, communal ideal of living.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Culver's root produces a nonstop display of white, candelabra-like flower heads throughout the summer.—
Lynn McAlpine,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
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Curcumin Curcumin is a natural compound found in the root of the turmeric plant that gives turmeric its yellow color and has beneficial properties.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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An equally strong argument could be made that the dementia was the real cause because his actions are manifestations of his condition.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Feb. 2026
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The result is a joyful and naturalistic celebration of the term’s many meanings and manifestations.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The seed emerges from within the boy, who wakes to find it in his mouth—not a date stone, but a polished walnut kernel.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Blitz the kernels with herbs, garlic, and vinegar for a lush, creamy sauce without dairy.—
Chadwick Boyd,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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