Definition of EXQUISITE (original) (raw)
1
a
: marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution
b
: marked by nice discrimination, deep sensitivity, or subtle understanding
2
a
: pleasing through beauty, fitness, or perfection
an exquisite white blossom
: one who is overly fastidious in dress or ornament
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for exquisite
exquisite implies a perfection in workmanship or design that appeals only to very sensitive taste.
an exquisite gold bracelet
elegant applies to what is rich and luxurious but restrained by good taste.
a sumptuous but elegant dining room
rare suggests an uncommon excellence.
delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.
dainty sometimes carries an additional suggestion of smallness and of appeal to the eye or palate.
Examples of exquisite in a Sentence
Adjective
My dream was … to play smoky ballads of exquisite sweetness and sophistication with somebody like Michelle Pfeiffer leaning misty-eyed over my shoulder. Actually, since this was the middle of the fifties, my fantasy ideal was probably closer to Doris Day. —
Daniel C. Dennett, Curious Minds, (2004) 2005 Also on view is one of Poussin's first classical landscape paintings; its exquisite geometry provides fresh insight into why Cézanne was one of this great painter's most passionate admirers. —Evelyn Toynton, Arts & Antiques, February 1996
a move executed with exquisite precision Her singing voice is truly exquisite. He chose his words with exquisite care.
Recent Examples on the Web
And while each outfit was exquisite, her hair was undeniably the show-stopper. —Elle Turner, Glamour, 2 Sep. 2024 The triple-camera system is solid, with day-long battery life, and the 6.4-inch AMOLED screen is exquisite. —Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 1 Aug. 2024
With scenery this exquisite and a setting this peaceful, no one should mind experiencing it all over again. —Roger Naylor, The Arizona Republic, 2 Aug. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for exquisite 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exquisite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English exquisit, from Latin exquisitus, past participle of exquirere to search out, from ex- + quaerere to seek
First Known Use
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Noun
1819, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of exquisite was in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near exquisite
Cite this Entry
“Exquisite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exquisite. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.
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Last Updated: 9 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences
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