1
as in manifestation
the most perfect type or example
the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building
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2
as in essence
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is
a selfless desire to help others is the quintessence of the virtue of charity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of quintessence
That’s partly because punk, with its assaultive immediacy and defiant not-niceness, now seems like the quintessence of the pre-digital world.
—
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 July 2022
To some, quintessence was a subtle substance found in some degree in each of the other four elements.
—Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
To test whether dark energy is caused by quintessence or the cosmological constant, scientists must determine whether the strength of dark energy has changed over time.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
But Frieman hopes new data may reveal something more exotic, such as a mysterious substance called quintessence, which some scientists have proposed could explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.
—Ramin Skibba, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 July 2022
To some, quintessence was a subtle substance found in some degree in each of the other four elements.
—Meg Neal, Popular Mechanics, 10 Feb. 2021
To test whether dark energy is caused by quintessence or the cosmological constant, scientists must determine whether the strength of dark energy has changed over time.
—Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2021
But Frieman hopes new data may reveal something more exotic, such as a mysterious substance called quintessence, which some scientists have proposed could explain the accelerating expansion of the universe.
—Ramin Skibba, Discover Magazine, 24 Jan. 2020
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessence
Noun
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There are a few different ways to interpret this most recent manifestation of the Administration’s talent for hypocrisy.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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Perhaps some paper manifestations just in time for the year of the Fire Horse.—
Xuan Juliana Wang,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Time is very much of the essence, as a two-week recess is set to begin at the end of next week.—
Zach LaChance,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Mar. 2026
-
In essence the ball will be brighter and have more bulbs creating better color and white light.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Some modern takes on Mediterranean classics include a feta watermelon balsamic salad and Turkish bread panzanella salad.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
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His words evoke the image of an animal slithering on the ground before growing—an allusion that was likely intended as a gardening pun about reptiles, argues classics scholar Rebecca Armstrong.—
Andrés Muedano,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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After portraying Alabaster, down to his pearly-white surname, as the apotheosis of white male villainy, Cash deflates him by arguing, essentially, #NotAllMen.—
Malavika Kannan,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
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For this Welsh immigrant family rose from nothing to produce an American icon who mastered a distinctly American art form — the ultimate apotheosis of the American Dream — and who is, ironically, the most miserable of them all.—
Ben Croll,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And that’s a less-than-ideal scenario to be in, considering that the US has continuously had at least one astronaut in space for the last 26 years.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
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Add workwear essentials like kitten heels and a structured handbag, making the ensemble ideal for meetings that transition seamlessly into the evening.—
India Roby,
Glamour,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In Yunnan, Hyland spent much of her time around Dali, a once-small mountain town that has cycled through various incarnations through the years.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Fey, so instrumental in SNL‘s modern era, was drafted in to add some gravitas to the UK incarnation.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Meta spent 2025 overhauling its AI unit after the release of its Llama 4 family of AI models failed to captivate third-party developers.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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Russia will build two VVER-1200 reactors, Rosatom’s most successful export model, which also complies with the strictest international requirements, at the site.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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These crops reward consistency, not perfection — a little daily attention goes a long way.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Mar. 2026
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From the East, Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong pursue perfection.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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