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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
Drawing on cultural influences, locality, and client lifestyles, Studio IDC aims to curate visually exquisite and functional spaces. Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2025 That random coffee shop that had the most exquisite collection of Arita porcelain and stacks of explicit manga. Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for exquisite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exquisite
Adjective
  • SFGate notes that many dogs fear the oven due to its unusual sounds, intense heat, and especially alarms or beeping.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
  • An intense pain that isn't going away There the lone doctor examined him and gave him an EKG to look at how his heart was functioning.
    Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Adjective
  • Baden-Baden Nestled alongside Germany's southwestern Black Forest, Baden-Baden is an elegant town that has been attracting wellness lovers since the Roman times.
    Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
  • Complementing the accommodations and A-list automobiles are the property’s elegant Espelette restaurant and bar, the 5,000-square-foot La Prairie Spa, a pool with panoramic city views, and the rarefied Rooftop culinary experience.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • The combination adds layers of flavor and a subtle edge, giving the salsa the same flavor profile as a spicy version without any burn.
    Gabi De la Rosa, Southern Living, 24 July 2025
  • The wine exhibits a delicate mousse featuring citrus-lime zest, layered with brioche, pear, and subtle minerality.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Noun
  • That's because some sellers, given higher interest rates and slower sales, might have to consider lowering their asking prices to attract buyers as inventory swells and mortgage rates hover in the 6% range.
    Shonda Novak, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
  • The images can also be stitched together to make a time lapse, so people can visualize how the shore changes with various swells, tides and seasons.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 July 2025
Adjective
  • Critics question whether a battery swap network—capital intensive, dependent on fleet adoption, and distributed across so many different markets—can scale profitably.
    Clay Chandler, Fortune, 19 July 2025
  • An intensive moisturiser that delivers maximum hydration, Revision’s DermProtect Barrier Defense™ also replenishes natural lipids, and enhances moisture retention.
    Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • What will replace the rare French glass HBO (Max) shattered with a random Friday-afternoon rock?
    Rachel Handler, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
  • These might include water retention, injection site irritation or, in rare cases, hormonal imbalances if the peptides are affecting growth hormone levels.
    Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Tasters enjoyed Canada Dry’s balance of flavors, noting that its delicate citrus played well with a sharp bitter note on the back of their tongues.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 July 2025
  • For instance, delicate fabrics like wool, silk, or linen will likely have different washing requirements than white cotton garments.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 12 July 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 Aug. 2025.

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