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
Relevance
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
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
-
Allied together, the two vessels fight the physical manifestation of the Radiance.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
On the automotive front, that character arc can be represented by the transition from the baronial elegance of the Bentley S2 Continental to the manifestation of rebellion found in the muscle cars from Motor City.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These metres break you down to your essence.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The bad news is that time is of the essence.—
Daniel Klein,
Mercury News,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The Polestar 1 is a future classic, the Polestar 2 is pretty good as well, the Polestar 3 is mostly forgettable, and so is the Polestar 4.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Romantic films in the modern era often lack the depth that cult classics released in the 1980s and 1990s had.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The apotheosis of Soderbergh’s fascination with close-ups is his 1999 crime thriller The Limey, about Wilson, an English ex-convict who comes to Los Angeles to find out what happened to his missing daughter and, upon finding out that she was murdered, embarks on a revenge mission.—
Matt Zoller Seitz,
Vulture,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Rooftop 58 serves as a near-perfect metaphor for the city’s recent apotheosis: Where a crumbling eyesore of a parking garage stood for decades, a new local government office, Brucity, opened in late 2022.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Trump’s philosophies continue to be debated among Republican lawmakers and voters as to whether his more populist ideals will stick with the GOP once his long run as party leader eventually comes to a close.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Finding themes where characters can continuously engage and undermine one another in this way, as a kind of contrasting ideal, is the most gratifying thing to me as a creator.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Also, the Gorn look a little different in their Strange New Worlds incarnation.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
-
This is the new incarnation of an old refrain, once expressed as the claim that China simply copies everything.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Built to last, the 2020 model features a new roof design that boasts up to 90 pounds per square foot of snow load.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The iPhone 17 lineup is headlined by the addition of the iPhone 17 Air, which takes the place of the iPhone Plus model that served as the company's second tier phone.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Victor’s own father is obsessed with legacy and perfection and mistreats his boy, and that cycle continues with Victor and the Creature.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
That could mean the index is vulnerable to a pullback if the tech sector starts to falter — especially at a moment when many investors fear the megacaps are priced for perfection.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quintessence. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share