exquisite

[ik-skwiz-it, ek-skwi-zit]

adjective

1. of special beauty or charm, or rare and appealing excellence, as a face, a flower, coloring, music, or poetry.

   Synonyms: elegant, beautiful, dainty
   Antonyms: inelegant, graceless

2. extraordinarily fine or admirable; consummate.

   exquisite weather.

   Synonyms: matchless, rare
   Antonyms: ordinary

3. intense; acute, or keen, as pleasure or pain.

   Synonyms: poignant
   Antonyms: dull

4. of rare excellence of production or execution, as works of art or workmanship.

   the exquisite statues of the Renaissance.

   Synonyms: precious, choice, select

5. keenly or delicately sensitive or responsive.

   an exquisite ear for music; an exquisite sensibility.

6. of particular refinement or elegance, as taste, manners, etc., or persons.

   Synonyms: discriminating

7. carefully sought out, chosen, ascertained, devised, etc.

noun

1. Archaic.,  a person, especially a man, who is excessively concerned about clothes, grooming, etc.; dandy; coxcomb.

exquisite

/ ɪkˈskwɪzɪt, ˈɛkskwɪzɪt /

adjective

1. possessing qualities of unusual delicacy and fine craftsmanship

   jewels in an exquisite setting

2. extremely beautiful and pleasing

   an exquisite face

3. outstanding or excellent

   an exquisite victory

4. sensitive; discriminating

   exquisite taste

5. fastidious and refined

6. intense or sharp in feeling

   exquisite pleasure

   exquisite pain

noun

1. obsolete,  a dandy

Pronunciation Note

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.

Other Word Forms

• exquisiteness noun
• exquisitely adverb
• overexquisite adjective
• superexquisite adjective
• superexquisiteness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of exquisite¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of exquisite¹

C15: from Latin exquīsītus excellent, from exquīrere to search out, from quaerere to seek

Synonym Study

See delicate. See fine ¹

Example Sentences

In Traynor’s vision, lighters, can openers and outlet covers are reimagined as exquisite pieces of Brutalist art, crisscrossed with strips of tin, encrusted with sea glass and stones.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The “exquisite” estate sits on 2 acres overlooking the 17th hole of the White Deer Run Golf Course, according to the listing.

Read more on MarketWatch

For the vast expanse of human history, we engaged face-to-face with others, developing exquisite abilities to read a partner’s emotional state, instinctively mirroring gestures to sharpen our own awareness.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The north London club conjured their second try in the 63rd minute, with Farrell executing an exquisite crossfield kick for Earl to score.

Read more on Barron's

But that’s because at a Chappell Roan show, Chappell Roan is the show: a fearsomely talented purveyor of feeling and attitude whose campy sense of humor only heightens the exquisite melancholy of her music.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• admirable 
• charming 
• delicate 
• delicious 
• elegant 
• ethereal 
• impeccable 
• lovely 
• meticulous 
• perfect 
• polished 
• precise 
• rare 
• refined 
• splendid 
• striking 
• subtle 
• superb