exquisite
1 of 2adjective
ex·qui·site ek-ˈskwi-zət 
ˈek-(ˌ)skwi-
ˈek-(ˌ)skwi- 1
a
: marked by flawless craftsmanship or by beautiful, ingenious, delicate, or elaborate execution
an exquisite vase
b
: marked by nice discrimination, deep sensitivity, or subtle understanding
exquisite taste
c
: accomplished, perfected
an exquisite gentleman
2
a
: pleasing through beauty, fitness, or perfection
an exquisite white blossom
b
: acute, intense
exquisite pain
c
: having uncommon or esoteric appeal
3
: carefully selected : choice
4
archaic : accurate
exquisitely adverb
exquisiteness noun
exquisite
2 of 2noun
: one who is overly fastidious in dress or ornament
Synonyms
Adjective
- acute
- almighty
- blistering
- deep
- dreadful
- excruciating
- explosive
- fearful
- fearsome
- ferocious
- fierce
- frightful
- furious
- ghastly
- hard
- heavy
- heavy-duty
- hellacious
- intense
- intensive
- keen
- profound
- terrible
- vehement
- vicious
- violent
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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.
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 Elise Taylor, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2022 But, could not be prouder to share the exquisite ending that #PeterGould wrote and directed. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2022 His impeccable tone, exquisite phrasing and deeply felt playing are matched by his imagination, exacting command of dynamics and oh-so-nimble touch, whether caressing a note or soaring into the stratosphere. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 All of them are interesting and exquisite in their own way. Carson Burton, Variety, 26 July 2022 Each paramour is unique to him—fleeting but exquisite, like a rare butterfly. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 Ellis’s drawing of the hands and face of her subject is tender and exquisite. Steven Litt, cleveland, 22 May 2022 Host your own private championship at this stunning Los Feliz estate’s exquisite tennis court. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2022 As if the result of a solo game of exquisite corpse, these composite creatures are oddly proportioned and at turns alluring and unsettling. New York Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2021 The most exquisite is the Single Late tulip, whose pastel versions are called French tulips by florists. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2021 The mac, resplendent in white cheese, was like putting a Mercedes in my mouth – that exquisite and that aerodynamic of an eat. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 30 Mar. 2021 Potter’s ironies, veering between the blunt and the exquisite, the oblique and the confrontational, expose the cruel hazards of nature and the perversities of culture. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2020 See More
Adjective
Often, the pieces are products of the exquisite and grand work of great jewelry houses such as Garrard, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Boucheron. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2022 But, could not be prouder to share the exquisite ending that #PeterGould wrote and directed. Amethyst Tate, Peoplemag, 16 Aug. 2022 His impeccable tone, exquisite phrasing and deeply felt playing are matched by his imagination, exacting command of dynamics and oh-so-nimble touch, whether caressing a note or soaring into the stratosphere. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 All of them are interesting and exquisite in their own way. Carson Burton, Variety, 26 July 2022 Each paramour is unique to him—fleeting but exquisite, like a rare butterfly. Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 20 June 2022 Ellis’s drawing of the hands and face of her subject is tender and exquisite. Steven Litt, cleveland, 22 May 2022 Host your own private championship at this stunning Los Feliz estate’s exquisite tennis court. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2022 As if the result of a solo game of exquisite corpse, these composite creatures are oddly proportioned and at turns alluring and unsettling. New York Times, 17 Mar. 2022 Noun
Why had all his predecessors failed to formulate such an exquisite, indeed mellifluous name for a place of spiritual quest? Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2021 The most exquisite is the Single Late tulip, whose pastel versions are called French tulips by florists. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2021 The mac, resplendent in white cheese, was like putting a Mercedes in my mouth – that exquisite and that aerodynamic of an eat. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 30 Mar. 2021 Potter’s ironies, veering between the blunt and the exquisite, the oblique and the confrontational, expose the cruel hazards of nature and the perversities of culture. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Nov. 2020 See More 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
Kids Definition
exquisite
adjective
ex·qui·site ek-ˈskwi-zət
ˈek-skwi-
1
: finely made or done
exquisite workmanship
2
: very pleasing (as through beauty)
exquisite roses
3
: intense sense 1, extreme
exquisite pain
Medical Definition
exquisite
adjective
ex·qui·site ik-ˈskwiz-ət ek-
ek- : acute sense 2a, intense
exquisite pain
exquisite 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect felt such exquisite anger at being betrayed by a so-called friend that she could hardly think straight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- intense
- intensive
- ferocious
- fierce
- terrible
- deep
- profound
- furious
- acute
- heavy
- ghastly
- dreadful
- explosive
- excruciating
- vicious
- frightful
- fearsome
- violent
- blistering
- almighty
- fearful
- heightened
- vehement
- enhanced
- intensified
- hard
- keen
- accentuated
- hellacious
- concentrated
- harsh
- heavy-duty
- magnified
- aggravated
- deepened
- exhaustive
- severe
- emphasized
- thorough
- rigorous
- stressed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soft
- light
- moderate
- feeble
- weak
- superficial
- shallow
- qualified
- subdued
- decreased
- toned (down)
- diminished
- reduced
- eased
- moderated
- lightened
- lessened
- alleviated
- abated
2
as in elegant
having qualities that appeal to a refined taste exquisite pen-and-ink drawings of city scenes grace the walls of the formal restaurant Synonyms & Similar Words
- elegant
- rare
- fine
- exceptional
- special
- excellent
- select
- delicate
- exclusive
- outstanding
- wonderful
- dainty
- choice
- superb
- premium
- fabulous
- classic
- great
- marvelous
- recherché
- fancy
- splendid
- better
- terrific
- superlative
- sensational
- marvellous
- bijou
- superior
- unsurpassed
- sterling
- stellar
- jewellike
- elite
- noble
- transcendent
- top-notch
- high-grade
- prime
- first-rate
- par excellence
- supernal
- grand
- first-class
- top
- tip-top
- ultrarare
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- coarse
- vulgar
- kitschy
- gross
- tasteless
- unpolished
- unrefined
- popular
- rough
- commercial
- ordinary
- kitsch
- raffish
- common
- lowbrow
- uncultivated
- uncultured
- mediocre
- rough-hewn
- lesser
- average
- unsatisfactory
- inferior
- unacceptable
- substandard
- mass-produced
- deficient
- run-of-the-mine
- wanting
- run-of-the-mill
- second-rate
- low-grade
- second-class
- run-of-mine
3
as in subtle
satisfying or pleasing because of fineness or mildness waiters at the wedding reception served exquisite hors d'oeuvres from silver trays Synonyms & Similar Words
- subtle
- elegant
- delicate
- extraordinary
- rare
- refined
- supreme
- dainty
- superior
- fine
- nuanced
- airy
- choice
- incomparable
- prime
- superlative
- peerless
- selected
- unsurpassed
- select
- transcendent
- fragile
- picked
- preeminent
- frail
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- robust
- strong
- sturdy
- coarse
- ordinary
- common
- crude
- rough
- mediocre
- indifferent
- average
- fair
- medium
- middling
- run-of-the-mill
- second-rate
exquisite
2 of 2noun
as in swell
Synonyms & Similar Words
- swell
- cavalier
- clotheshorse
- blade
- fancy Dan
- coxcomb
- dandy
- gallant
- beau
- popinjay
- pretty boy
- macaroni
- dasher
- fop
- jay
- Beau Brummell
- dude
- lounge lizard
- buck
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slob
- sloven
Synonym Chooser
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
While the synonyms choice and exquisite are close in meaning, choice stresses preeminence in quality or kind.
choice fabric
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
The words delicate and exquisite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, delicate implies exquisiteness, subtlety, and fragility.
delicate craftsmanship
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
While in some cases nearly identical to exquisite, rare suggests an uncommon excellence.
rare beauty