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Definition of exquisitenext
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exquisite

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word exquisite different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of exquisite are choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, and rare. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

When could choice be used to replace exquisite?

While the synonyms choice and exquisite are close in meaning, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

When can dainty be used instead of exquisite?

Although the words dainty and exquisite have much in common, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

In what contexts can delicate take the place of exquisite?

The words delicate and exquisite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

Where would elegant be a reasonable alternative to exquisite?

The synonyms elegant and exquisite are sometimes interchangeable, but elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

When is rare a more appropriate choice than exquisite?

While in some cases nearly identical to exquisite, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

How is the word exquisite different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of exquisite are choice, dainty, delicate, elegant, and rare. While all these words mean "having qualities that appeal to a cultivated taste," exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.

an exquisite gold bracelet

When could choice be used to replace exquisite?

While the synonyms choice and exquisite are close in meaning, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.

choice fabric

When can dainty be used instead of exquisite?

Although the words dainty and exquisite have much in common, dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.

dainty sandwiches

In what contexts can delicate take the place of exquisite?

The words delicate and exquisite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.

delicate craftsmanship

Where would elegant be a reasonable alternative to exquisite?

The synonyms elegant and exquisite are sometimes interchangeable, but elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.

a sumptuous but elegant dining room

When is rare a more appropriate choice than exquisite?

While in some cases nearly identical to exquisite, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.

rare beauty

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 exquisite
Adjective
The major hubs are bad in all the predictable ways, but America’s smaller airports are each cursed and tragic in their own exquisite style. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026 The opening notes of the title song introduced the exquisite complexity that characterized the album as a whole. Chris Young, AJC.com, 25 Mar. 2026
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 With scenery this exquisite and a setting this peaceful, no one should mind experiencing it all over again. Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for exquisite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exquisite
Adjective
  • In an unexpected move, OpenAI announced its video generating service Sora will be shutting down soon as the company comes under intense pressure from rival Anthropic.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Lotion focuses on exactly that, combining intense hydration with ingredients that help reinforce the skin’s natural protective layer.
    Hana Hong, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Depending on the combination, this creates either a clean, almost futuristic appeal or a soft, elegant look.
    Jana Ackermann, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Van Beirendonck gravitates toward loud prints in bright colors and allusions to BDSM, whereas Van Saene makes elegant cocktail dresses for women with bow details and shrunken cardigans.
    Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Interestingly, the wristband could accurately predict a wide array of hand positions, from 26 letters of complex American Sign Language signs to the subtle grips required for holding scissors, a tennis ball, or a pencil.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Mouth breathers tend to carry their head forward to open the airway, a subtle shift that can become its own habitual pattern.
    Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Like the swell of a wave drawn irresistibly to the shore.
    Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Visitors should be cautious about going into a sea cave without a guide, as a swell can flow into it and dramatically raise the water level in a matter of seconds, pushing kayaks into rocks and leaving little air for those trapped inside.
    Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • These are the military's most elite forces, who have undergone intensive physical and technical training for this type of mission.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Radar works in these conditions but is power-intensive for small drones.
    Nitin Sanket, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The decision drew immediate fire from El-Sayed's primary opponents and national Democratic figures, forcing a rare public reckoning over how far the party should go to recapture young men who abandoned it in record numbers in 2024.
    Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
  • That would be a rare bit of good news from our embrace of AI.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Let the delicate custard shine.
    Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Furthermore, the data gathered by the device could be used to train humanoid robots to perform delicate tasks, such as surgery or complex manufacturing, by mimicking human finesse.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The young women and their cavaliers headed to L’Arc, a nightclub in Paris situated near the Shangri-La; there, the group continued their celebrations some hours later.
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 2025
  • Carolina Herrera's granddaughter Carolina Lansing Carolina Lansing, the 21-year-old granddaughter of legendary fashion designer Carolina Herrera, also made her debut with her younger brother, Magnus Lansing, as her cavalier.
    Pamela Avila, USA Today, 1 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exquisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exquisite. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

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