essence

noun

ˈe-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce essence (audio)
Definition of essencenext
1
as in nature
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

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2
as in core
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 essence That’s why the Pittsburgh Steelers’ style of play, their essence, doesn’t change. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The concept art is meant to capture the essence of the project and is not intended to depict final details and design of the bridge. — Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026 Falling asleep to the ocean breeze and crashing waves encapsulates the essence of Essaouira, a city long favored by a bohemian crowd. — Katie Silcox, Vogue, 23 Aug. 2026 The capture the true essence of strawberries and cream, layer a lightweight cardigan or sweater over sparkly sequins. — Emma Bocchi, Glamour, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
  1. nature
  2. core
  3. substance
  4. heart
  5. soul
  6. root
  7. manifestation
  8. kernel
Noun
  • All three projects will collectively contribute to better measurements of how cosmic structure is changing over time—crucial information for clarifying the nature of dark energy and dark matter in the universe’s evolution.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While the moves are not dramatic, the elevated nature of yields has added to the debt burden, putting interest paid as the largest federal expenditure outside Social Security and Medicare.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Jeff Cox, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • At its core, Vermejo is a conservation laboratory developing the blueprint for rewilding in North America—the tourism element simply helps to fund it.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • To create objects with collapsibility as a core feature, Toyonaga’s team devised an analytic design algorithm allowing incremental construction of complex scissored surfaces.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • The sources of bioaccumulative substances that end up in the environment range from agricultural runoff and industrial pollution to oil tanker spills, vehicle exhaust, and landfill leakage.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Six schools in the Sioux Falls School District will take part in a new pilot, the CARE (Counseling, Awareness, Recovery and Education) Prevention Program, to bring more counselors in with the goal to prevent substance use.
    — Morgan Matzen, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of substance
Noun
  • But your heart and lungs are only delivering the oxygen to the muscle.
    — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Colorado went into Georgia Tech — playing in its first sellout home-opener in 20 years — and ripped their hearts out.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Rams no longer need the future Hall of Famer to be the heart and soul of their defense.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of soul
Noun
  • Kérastase’s Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo can help, balancing a deep cleanse with density-boosting (and hydrating) ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and gluco-peptides, to plump the cuticle and reduce breakage from root-to-tip.
    — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Having a healthy lawn means managing soil conditions for the roots, mowing properly, and strengthening the density of the grass by overseeding.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • One manifestation of that shift is a Holiday Inn Express ad campaign that ran for more than a decade beginning in 1998 and showed ordinary people completing complex tasks such as brain surgery that were far outside their professional expertise.
    — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The dropping/suspension was the beginning of the end, or at least the most public manifestation of the beginning of the end.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of manifestation
Noun
  • Adults is almost always at its best when there’s a method to the madness, a kernel of earnestness at the heart of it all.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Linux password file retrieved The researchers demonstrated the threat on an AMD computer running a current Linux kernel.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kernel

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Cite this Entry

“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essence

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