exquisitely
Americanadverb
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excellently, especially in a way that shows extreme refinement or elegance.
The scenic design is gorgeous, and the show is exquisitely lit.
Under the tree stands a group of exquisitely sculpted Buddhas.
-
to a degree that is exceptional or extraordinary.
String theory suggests that the universe is created by the vibrations of exquisitely tiny superstrings in ten spatial dimensions.
-
to an extreme degree; intensely.
Until that point, I had not heard the details of my students’ exquisitely personal stories of the experience of war.
The ocean swim was truly invigorating, and I felt exquisitely alive.
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showing keen sensitivity.
The blood-brain barrier is a network that exquisitely controls the movement of cells and molecules between the blood and the fluid that surrounds the brain.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exquisitely
Explanation
When something is done exquisitely, it's done with beautiful, perfect detail, like a masterfully painted portrait or a beautifully composed symphony. To do something exquisitely means to do it with exceptional beauty and precision. Think of a delicate piece of jewelry crafted with intricate designs, or a dish prepared by a top chef with the finest ingredients. The word comes from the Latin exquisitus, meaning "carefully sought out or chosen." Exquisitely crafted things stand out for their detailed perfection and elegance, such as a finely written poem, a gorgeously decorated room, or a flawlessly executed dance performance.
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.
In Mr. Fiennes’s view, “no other French author has written with such intensity and such an exquisitely sharp eye for the natural world, or indeed about the needs and passions of the human one.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
“These promises are extremely, exquisitely hard to enforce,” said Alvaro Bedoya, an antitrust lawyer who served on the Federal Trade Commission during the Biden administration, likening Paramount’s concessions to a pinkie promise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Malik Tillman’s exquisitely placed, curving free kick for a goal in the 82nd minute might have been Messi-esque, but the call on Balogun?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026
"You're able to do two things that are normally not compatible with one another: Use entanglement to build an exquisitely sensitive sensor but also have robustness to arbitrarily large amounts of noise," Clerk said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 6, 2026
So the race between predator and prey remains exquisitely neck and neck.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
