exquisite
Americanadjective
-
of special beauty or charm, or rare and appealing excellence, as a face, a flower, coloring, music, or poetry.
-
extraordinarily fine or admirable; consummate.
exquisite weather.
- Antonyms:
- ordinary
-
intense; acute, or keen, as pleasure or pain.
- Synonyms:
- poignant
- Antonyms:
- dull
-
of rare excellence of production or execution, as works of art or workmanship.
the exquisite statues of the Renaissance.
-
keenly or delicately sensitive or responsive.
an exquisite ear for music; an exquisite sensibility.
-
of particular refinement or elegance, as taste, manners, etc., or persons.
- Synonyms:
- discriminating
-
carefully sought out, chosen, ascertained, devised, etc.
noun
adjective
-
possessing qualities of unusual delicacy and fine craftsmanship
jewels in an exquisite setting
-
extremely beautiful and pleasing
an exquisite face
-
outstanding or excellent
an exquisite victory
-
sensitive; discriminating
exquisite taste
-
fastidious and refined
-
intense or sharp in feeling
exquisite pleasure
exquisite pain
noun
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of exquisite has undergone a rapid change from to , with stress shifting to the second syllable. The newer pronunciation is still criticized by some, but is now more common in both the U.S. and England, and many younger educated speakers are not even aware of the older one. See harass.
Synonym Usage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exquisite
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin exquīsītus “meticulous, chosen with care,” originally past participle of exquīrere “to ask about, examine,” equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + -quīrere , combining form of quaerere “to seek”
Explanation
Use exquisite to mean finely or delicately made or done. When you say someone has exquisite taste, you mean that they are able to make fine distinctions. Exquisite describes something that is lovely, beautiful, or excellent. Exquisite pain or agony is very sharp and intense. Exquisite is from Middle English exquisit, from Latin exquisitus, from exquirere "to search out."
Vocabulary lists containing exquisite
Positive Words to Describe a Person
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The Diary of Anne Frank
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"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When my neck shrine was finally finished, it was pronounced "exquisite" and left to dry, while salt beef and cream cheese beigels arrived from nearby Brick Lane.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
“Tucked behind mature hedging on one of Malibu’s most desirable streets, this exquisite estate presents a striking blend of California modernism and rustic refinement,” the listing noted.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026
The exquisite lighting, shifting with pastel shades of Spielbergian wonder, lent a cinematic quality that felt appropriate to a stage named in honor of composer and conductor John Williams.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026
From the Chinese point of view, the timing is exquisite.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
A dollhouse, with tiny exquisite doll plates and teacups, was set out on the center table.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
