essence

noun

ˈe-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce essence (audio)
Definition of essencenext
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

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 essence Many of these 13 tracks have popped up as demos in Jensen’s live shows or NTS sets, cooking down to their essence in plain sight. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026 There are images by fashion photographer Tim Walker, who captures the essence of the Milan aesthetic, as well as pieces by other contemporary artists who engage with the history of the space and its place in contemporary Milan. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 Essential oils, oleoresins, essences and distillates all qualify, as do protein hydrolysates and any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026 These recipes showcase the season’s best ingredients—squash, sweet potatoes, and crisp apples—capturing the essence of autumn’s harvest. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
  1. nature
  2. core
  3. substance
  4. heart
  5. soul
  6. root
  7. manifestation
  8. kernel
Noun
  • For many, a walk in the woods or a visit to a scenic stop is a way to seek out not just solitude but also to connect with nature.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • At Holmen, encounters with nature became part of the daily rhythm.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo's iPhone-grade chip outperformed Googlebooks’ processors in single-core performance, while losing out on multi-core performance by varying (but overall large) margins.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As that enormous dome thinned through the Holocene, its margin withdrew up onto Baffin Island, and what’s left today is the deflated core of something that was once two miles thick.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • The 40-year-old Crowley also talked about his own experience growing up in poverty and with working-class parents who battled substance abuse and mental health issues during the city's crack-cocaine epidemic.
    — Maayan Silver, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Other areas researched include inflammation, headaches, lung function, arthritis, bone density, blood pressure and substance use.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of substance
Noun
  • The sharpest character study lies in the potential recipient of Simon’s heart, a woman who has all but given up on having a future but then finds herself at the top of a transplant list, suddenly lucky enough to get a new life.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Ashley Padilla Padilla, who captured hearts as a star cast member of SNL this past year, made the room laugh with a toast full of jokes and references to her most notable sketches.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Against the backdrop of seemingly endless violence, artists banded together and dabbled in soul, disco, and jazz as a salve to their suffering.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After Esther’s soul-searching decision to separate, the third season of the show, now streaming, tracks the fallout of their life apart.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of soul
Noun
  • Becoming the first Latino directly elected to California’s highest office is a distinction Becerra was reluctant to promote on the campaign trail, preferring instead to focus on his humble roots.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The root of Wilson’s resentment is that he was charmed by the pods version of Wilnie, who was temporarily free from real-life concerns and whose only job was to banter with him through a wall.
    — Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • In this iteration, their physiques are displayed not for aesthetic purposes but as a visual manifestation of volatile power.
    — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The store was designed by Storage Milano in partnership with Tommasi Bardelle and is a physical manifestation of the brand.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of manifestation
Noun
  • There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In their experiments, the team found silicon in the kernels before irradiation.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of kernel

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Cite this Entry

“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

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