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

The man known for tailored daywear had quietly built a repertoire of exquisite evening clothes, many of them on loan from their famous owners for the Guggenheim exhibit.

From Los Angeles Times

“Keep A Picture” is a modern Appalachian mountain ballad in terms of the exquisite, tangible pathos.

From Salon

“Mary Corse has continually expanded the possibilities of painting in her exquisite works, which invite us to think deeply about the nature of perception,” said Govan in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times

It's exquisite, even allowing for the rather ungainly noses forced on this era of F1 cars by the regulations.

From BBC

In her exquisite rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” the tenderness between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, at once earthy and ethereal, deepened the expressive range of the love between them.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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