1
as in substances
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
Relevance
2
as in roots
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 essences
One notable upgrade is the Sheet Mask Boost Mode, specifically designed to help hydrating essences penetrate deeper into the skin.
—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 June 2026
In this process, neuroscientists assess the emotional benefits of natural essences using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Like almost all modern iterations of music, the genre of Catalan rumba has evolved alongside streaming-era influences and the younger generations of musicians who have taken up its sonic essences and distilled them through their own lenses.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Many imitation almond extracts or essences rely on synthetic benzaldehyde for flavor, which can create saccharine notes that overpower delicate desserts like custards, sponges, or pastry creams.
—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Store shelves are packed with serums, toners, essences and exfoliants — all promising transformative results.
—
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
The in-store assortment includes hair essences and hydrating mists from Narka; PDRN and exosome scalp serums from Lilyeve, plus other offerings from La’dor, Healing Bird, Refilled and Growus, which are all priced under $40 and focus on innovative formats and ingredients.
—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
25 Mar. 2026
For those whose skin leans on the drier side, year-round, hydration flooding with essences, toners, and ampoules maximizes hydration without adding unwanted heaviness.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
The spa uses oils and essences from the hotel's medicinal garden, while the treatment rooms are set within the former convent's nuns' cells.
—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
24 June 2026
In this process, neuroscientists assess the emotional benefits of natural essences using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).
—
Laia Farran Graves,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Like almost all modern iterations of music, the genre of Catalan rumba has evolved alongside streaming-era influences and the younger generations of musicians who have taken up its sonic essences and distilled them through their own lenses.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Many imitation almond extracts or essences rely on synthetic benzaldehyde for flavor, which can create saccharine notes that overpower delicate desserts like custards, sponges, or pastry creams.
—
Emily Saladino,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
9 Apr. 2026
Store shelves are packed with serums, toners, essences and exfoliants — all promising transformative results.
—
Kansas City Star,
7 Apr. 2026
The in-store assortment includes hair essences and hydrating mists from Narka; PDRN and exosome scalp serums from Lilyeve, plus other offerings from La’dor, Healing Bird, Refilled and Growus, which are all priced under $40 and focus on innovative formats and ingredients.
—
Noor Lobad,
Footwear News,
25 Mar. 2026
For those whose skin leans on the drier side, year-round, hydration flooding with essences, toners, and ampoules maximizes hydration without adding unwanted heaviness.
—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
The spa uses oils and essences from the hotel's medicinal garden, while the treatment rooms are set within the former convent's nuns' cells.
—
Jenn Rice,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essences
Noun
-
Some accounts cite an April 23, 2026 effective date, while the FDA’s own docket shows substances still moving through review months later.
-
That’s why only seven substances, BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-C, Emideltide, Semax and Epitalon, are on that meeting’s agenda even though far more than seven have already cleared the earlier hurdle.
Noun
-
Aniston, on the other hand, leaned into the shoe's casual roots, wearing hers with jeans and a tank top for a relaxed look that felt quintessentially summer.
-
The dynamic Sun in your 9th House of Exploration quincunxes powerful Pluto in your 4th House of Home, so growth calls while roots demand attention.
Noun
-
The fact is often interpreted as women wanting less risk than men because of women’s natures.
-
These observations suggest that small, mysterious moons with surprisingly different natures are the source of the particles that make up the two outermost rings, and that there are probably even more undiscovered moons to add to the 29 already known around Uranus.
Noun
-
Millennials have a soft spot in their hearts for babydoll tops.
-
Our hearts go out to the people who were lost, their families, and everyone who has been impacted.
Noun
-
Nowhere has Hollywood left its mark quite like this desert town of 6,000 souls on the banks of the Rio Grande.
-
Spiritual progress requires fighting against the natural downward inclination of our souls—though fighting, oddly, is also the problem.
Noun
-
Narrow tree cores – the diameter of a pencil – have been pulled from some of the planet’s oldest trees.
-
But Becerra remained the clear Democratic favorite in South County, in the urban cores of Escondido and San Marcos, as well as most of Vista and Oceanside.
Noun
-
Grill ears in their husks, then cut the kernels from the cob and add them to salads, salsas, grain bowls, or vegetable dishes.
-
Queue our first montage of black-and-white movie clips (this time from The Hustler) that tip us off to the cinematic kernels from which Sugar learned to charm a civilian.
Noun
-
Their Dingač gained international recognition after scoring 99 out of 100 points from Wine Enthusiast.
-
Kendrick Perkins, Jemele Hill, Monica McNutt and Gilbert Arenas have all made comments suggesting a similar discomfort at various points.
Cite this Entry
“Essences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essences. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
