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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

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 outfits range from the exquisite to the amusing to the absurd, tracing San Francisco fashion from after the 1906 earthquake to the new century. Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024 Balcer would put her stamp on the game in another way 25 minutes later, delivering an exquisite through ball that launched Lavelle on a dash up the middle of the Gotham defense toward the tying goal. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2023
Noun
Gol and Brazil are also trying to promote tourism in the Amazon, known for its vast rain forests, indigenous communities, biodiversity and exquisite cuisines. Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025 Chalfant illustrates this in the film with exquisite subtlety, assuming by turns the disposition of a coy flirt and a take-charge kitchen taskmaster. Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exquisite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exquisite
Adjective
  • Moster has long been a target of intense scorn in the Orthodox world.
    Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 24 June 2025
  • Beijing is also working to draw Europe closer as the continent faces intense pressure from Washington; for example, China has lifted sanctions on members of the European Parliament and dangled other concessions ahead of an EU-Chinese summit scheduled for July 2025.
    Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Auberge Tokito, which opened in April 2024, is an elegant Ryokan (Japanese-style restaurant with lodging facilities) in Tachikawa City on the outskirts of central Tokyo.
    Akiko Katayama, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • Beside skiing and yachting, tennis is one of its major concerns, and this season’s assortment includes the elegant Ellen blazer.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • The result was a robust workforce forecasting model, one that’s sophisticated enough to consider the subtle complexities of human behavior and help identify potential attrition risks.
    Nia Bowers, USA Today, 30 June 2025
  • Edwards clearly is a devoted Spielberg fan, embedding subtle homages throughout, notably in the open water sequences that recall Jaws.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • Winds were at 30 knots, generating 6-foot to 8-foot swells.
    Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
  • To the right of the eye, life-threatening storm surge will produce coastal flooding, large waves, swells, and rip currents.
    Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Designed to withstand intensive training, Lacoste’s abrasion-resistant piqué fabric is made with Ultra Dry moisture-wicking technology for more breathable wear.
    Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 27 June 2025
  • Oftentimes, enrolling in an intensive language program qualifies someone for a student visa, depending on the requirements of that country (more on that later).
    Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • LPTs are a new and rare group of cosmic objects discovered in 2022.
    Mia Thurow, USA Today, 26 June 2025
  • Among the most notable highlights: Providence in Hollywood earned its third star, while Somni, in West Hollywood, made a stunning debut with three stars—a rare and remarkable feat.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Guests can pick up housemade breads, rotisserie chicken, and delicate pastries made in partnership with Healdsburg’s Quail & Condor.
    Keyla Vasconcellos, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Fata Morgana Scabiosa is often used in cottage and wildflower gardens because of its many delicate, circular flowers and long, spindly stems.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2025
Noun
  • The event kicked off with an opening dance, before the debutantes lined up for a waltz with their fathers, who were then passed onto their cavaliers for dancing with a live band.
    Kristen Bateman, Vogue, 1 Dec. 2024
  • Opal is described as a 5-pound red/brown cavapoo — a mix of a King Charles cavalier and a poodle.
    Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Exquisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exquisite. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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