1
as in manifestation
the most perfect type or example
the Parthenon in Greece was considered the quintessence of the perfectly proportioned building
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in classic
constituting, serving as, or worthy of being a pattern to be imitated
Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Pumpkins may be a quintessential fall vegetable, but many other seasonal fruits and vegetables offer diverse flavors and nutrients to add to your plate.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Noun
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
Adjective
Bolognese is the quintessential beef ragu consisting of ground beef, aromatic vegetables like onions, carrots, celery and herbs.
—Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Pumpkins may be a quintessential fall vegetable, but many other seasonal fruits and vegetables offer diverse flavors and nutrients to add to your plate.
—Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessence
Noun
-
But receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame hadn’t even crossed her mind, let alone make it onto any of her manifestation boards.—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The tort claim asked for at least $300,000 in damages on behalf of the woman, who’s suffering from nausea, anxiety and sleeplessness as physical manifestations of emotional distress, Gordon wrote in the claim.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In essence, the device aims to replace a lymphatic massage or gua sha, offering fascia release, fluid drainage, and smoother texture in one handheld gadget.—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Matsui, a Democrat, said time is of the essence, and called on her Republican colleagues to negotiate.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s even been a couple of classic cup finals to enjoy, while the Arch, at 436 feet almost three times as tall as the old towers, has become a genuine landmark on the London skyline.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Both of these have the classic looks of black and shiny, rust-resistant zinc.—
Clint Davis,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Their way to rock-and-roll sublimity, to headbanging apotheosis, is comprehensively barred.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The apotheosis of Soderbergh’s fascination with close-ups is his 1999 crime thriller The Limey, about Wilson, an English ex-convict who comes to Los Angeles to find out what happened to his missing daughter and, upon finding out that she was murdered, embarks on a revenge mission.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
As far as gender-bent reboots go, High Fidelity is exemplary.—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Jennings and Tod do an exemplary job of bringing this classic to a new generation, while showing utmost respect for the original.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Tabarca, Spain — Spain’s Mediterranean islands have come to represent an ideal of lifestyle and leisure.—
Miquel Ros,
CNN Money,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Even pandas—poster child of adorableness—don’t match the plush ideal.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His size and demeanor are perfect for wrangling crowds and looking over heads at Titans games to see if people are trying to access vehicles in the parking lot, officers say.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Neville, who earned his degree in business administration from Regis, was a frequent recipient of perfect ratings from the American Conservative Union and Americans for Prosperity.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The movie follows the Shakers’ irrepressible leader — who espoused gender and social equality while believing herself to be the female incarnation of Christ.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In its original incarnation, the group stood in opposition to the House Un-American Activities Committee’s Joseph McCarthy-era interrogations of Hollywood figures suspected of communist sympathies.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 11 Oct. 2025.
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