quintessence

noun

kwin-ˈte-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce quintessence (audio)
Definition of quintessencenext
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

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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

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessence
  1. manifestation
  2. essence
  3. classic
  4. apotheosis
  5. ideal
  6. incarnation
  7. model
  8. perfection
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
  • To experience a thicker, chewier noodle, order the tsukemen (dipping-style ramen) with a broth, as dense as gravy, fusing the essences of pork, chicken and fish.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Ahead, scroll on to find five cozy colors that the nail pros say perfectly capture the essence of fall.
    — Jennifer Hussein, InStyle, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of essence
Noun
  • There’s a selection of fresh juices, pastries and muffins, alongside heartier classics like the full English, or smoked salmon sourdough crumpets.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Guests can choose between a four- or six-course tasting menu, or opt for à la carte Italian classics—simple in theory, but rich in flavor and execution.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of classic
Noun
  • The story of theory, from its birth in France to its unlikely apotheosis in America, is a tale rich not just in ideas but—ironically, given the Frenchmen’s generally antihumanist stance—human drama.
    — Emily Eakin, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • The millenia-old quest to control fire may be nearing its apotheosis as technology has finally come for some one of the oldest cooking techniques out there.
    — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Definition of apotheosis
Noun
  • Bart Bart Starr led the Packers to victories in the first two Super Bowls ever played, making this moniker ideal for football history buffs.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • For his business, the ideal is one that has the strength to unload a truck, and the dexterity to sort lipstick—as some of the humanoids working in his operations can now do.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of ideal
Noun
  • But for this film incarnation of Graham’s story, Boyle wanted an Australian to portray the man labelled the ‘Dirty Digger’.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The magazine’s modern incarnation covers bird migrations and competitive stone skipping, oversized roadside attractions and how to grow roses.
    — HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of incarnation
Noun
  • When model Tricia Helfer came in for a touch-up before an introductory visit to her boyfriend’s parents, Johns toned down her bright blonde chunks to play up her naturally innocent looks.
    — Vanessa Friedman, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Meteorologists said the majority of model guidance does not indicate a credible hurricane threat to California during the second week of September.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of model
Noun
  • For a century, the Michelin star has been synonymous with culinary ambition and the pursuit of perfection.
    — Carinne Geil Botta, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • After all, homemade meals with good company are a recipe for perfection.
    — Amanda Favazza, Southern Living, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of perfection

Browse Nearby Words

quilts
quintessence
quintessences
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Cite this Entry

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

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