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
And her longevity feels like a quest in the direction of excellence, as well as a pursuit of her own quintessence.
—
Chris Richards, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
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
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 celebrate the Domaine, Lancôme has introduced a special edition Mille et Une Roses (1001 Roses) fragrance, created by perfumer Louise Turner to capture the quintessence of this glorious and significant flower.
—April Long, Town & Country, 26 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Chris Richards, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2023
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
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 celebrate the Domaine, Lancôme has introduced a special edition Mille et Une Roses (1001 Roses) fragrance, created by perfumer Louise Turner to capture the quintessence of this glorious and significant flower.
—April Long, Town & Country, 26 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for quintessence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quintessence
Noun
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The tilt of recent immigration toward higher skilled workers from Asia is another manifestation of this same pattern.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
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But the truly painful manifestation of distaste for Musk has been entirely legal, as consumers have shunned his cars.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Accompanied by sweeping string arrangements and powerful blaring horns, the song encapsulates the essence of modern mariachi while staying rooted in its timeless traditions.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
18 Apr. 2025
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Pretty much, Orji’s focus for the live format isn’t to recreate what’s been done before, but making the experience her own while staying true to the essence of the show.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This is a club, as the Joy Division classic goes, that is meant to fall apart when Easter arrives.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
-
The film, which is considered a cult classic in Hip-Hop circles, also included appearances by JAY-Z and Dash himself.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That scene at the opera was, for me anyway, the apotheosis of it.—
Todd Gilchrist,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2025
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But humanity is not progressing toward an apotheosis.—
A. Wess Mitchell,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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On May 2, Venus will join Neptune in Aries, adding a dreamy, almost ethereal quality to your love life — try not to get swept up in ideals and fantasies.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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For many, financial security is becoming more important than aligning every purchase with environmental ideals.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Most of it involves the two men bantering (and occasionally bickering) behind the wheel in their current incarnations and the occasional unexpected back-seat cameo (the most memorable one being producer Adler, who financed and directed their first film).—
Adam Tschorn,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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The United States and its allies, however, will have to determine whether a China that is a softer incarnation of its current self should be regarded as a legitimate part of a changing global order—or still be treated as an existential threat.—
RANA MITTER,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The tiered model approach allows developers to select the appropriate balance between performance and cost, with GPT-4.1 Nano being ideal for tasks like classification or autocompletion, and the standard GPT-4.1 model suited for more complex applications.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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The model aims to help students live and learn together—making everyone feel welcome, and also helping students navigate the conflicts that inevitably arise in a community where people have different world views.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Obsessive compulsive disorder causes people to fixate on consistency or perfection.—
Heidi Moawad, MD,
Verywell Health,
18 Apr. 2025
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Financial literacy starts with curiosity, not perfection.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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