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 about 10 million cystic-fibrosis carriers in the United States alone, so if even a fraction of them have some degree of symptoms, that amounts to many people with manifestations of the disease.—
Roxanne Khamsi,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
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The feeling of pieces that have been worn for years, a manifestation of the secondhand market boom, also pervaded the predictions.—
James Manso,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is an amalgam of Hollywood archetypes, the essence of a big-screen hero boiled down and maybe left on the stove too long.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
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Each pad is soaked in a calming essence built around the brand’s proprietary Artemisia-Cica blend—a K-beauty-favorite pairing of artemisia (mugwort) and Centella asiatica.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Movie buffs might recognize Schilthorn Piz-Gloria, the iconic mountain peak on the Jungfrau skyline that served as the filming location of the James Bond classic On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.—
Meghan Palmer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
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From the kitchen comes an equally elegant menu of classics – think gorgeous local steaks, terrines and roasted Amish chicken plated with cockles – imagined with creativity and a deep understanding of European technique seen through a Tennessee lens.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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But the apotheosis of the ceremony arrived early, and had little to do with individual personalities.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
6 Feb. 2026
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Trump is at once a symptom of this disease and its apotheosis, a living representation of all the ways the United States has encouraged, tolerated and rewarded the most selfish and antisocial behaviors imaginable, at least among a certain class of person.—
Jamelle Bouie,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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At the time, Vance shocked allies with an address accusing Europe of abandoning commitments to free speech, religious liberty, and other democratic ideals.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Feb. 2026
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Many slaves, Murray noted, internalized this ideal of American freedom despite their own subjugation.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In fact, there are dozens, including a 1988 Japanese incarnation, a 2015 retelling set in a California high school, and several versions from India, a Bollywood musical among them.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
13 Feb. 2026
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She is expected to take on a supporting/guest role in the NBC incarnation.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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From open models to real-world applications, China has shown that constraints have not stopped it from gaining ground.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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William is asserting himself as the architect of a stricter, more disciplined royal model.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The expectations of perfection forced upon these women helped facilitate their silence, which is something Wagner cited as reason for her years-long silence.—
Jasmine Wynn,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
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Consistency can provide calming visuals, but Wells advises steering clear of perfection.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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