essence

noun

ˈe-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce essence (audio)
Definition of essencenext
1
as in nature
the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is the belief that power ultimately rests with the people is the very essence of democracy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in core
the central part or aspect of something under consideration presented the essence of weeks of testimony in a 20-minute appeal to the jury

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of essence Essential oils, oleoresins, essences and distillates all qualify, as do protein hydrolysates and any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis. — Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Oct. 2026 Finish Skin Prep With a Toner or Essence After cleansing, a toning step can remove any leftover impurities from the pores and balance the skin’s pH level, while essences—which have a slightly thicker texture—tend to be more hydrating. — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Finding the essence of a scene does not always mean moving closer or showing more. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 These recipes showcase the season’s best ingredients—squash, sweet potatoes, and crisp apples—capturing the essence of autumn’s harvest. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
  1. nature
  2. core
  3. substance
  4. heart
  5. soul
  6. root
  7. manifestation
  8. kernel
Noun
  • For many, a walk in the woods or a visit to a scenic stop is a way to seek out not just solitude but also to connect with nature.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026
  • At Holmen, encounters with nature became part of the daily rhythm.
    — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of nature
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the MacBook Neo's iPhone-grade chip outperformed Googlebooks’ processors in single-core performance, while losing out on multi-core performance by varying (but overall large) margins.
    — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
  • As that enormous dome thinned through the Holocene, its margin withdrew up onto Baffin Island, and what’s left today is the deflated core of something that was once two miles thick.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of core
Noun
  • For Washington, the primary task is not only to mediate the substance of a deal but also to learn how to choreograph negotiations amid ongoing military action.
    — Dmitry Adamsky, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Running Tide had struggled to grow kelp offshore at scale and shifted toward deployments of wood chips mixed with alkaline substances, said former general manager Kristinn Hróbjartsson.
    — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of substance
Noun
  • Our hearts are with the families whose homes and livelihoods have been impacted.
    — Ava Berger, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Clyde also finds a black heart, but blows up Morgan’s scarecrow.
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of heart
Noun
  • Against the backdrop of seemingly endless violence, artists banded together and dabbled in soul, disco, and jazz as a salve to their suffering.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After Esther’s soul-searching decision to separate, the third season of the show, now streaming, tracks the fallout of their life apart.
    — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of soul
Noun
  • Reid on Wednesday remembered a player who embraced his rural roots — Bailey grew up in Hog Hammock on Sapelo Island off the Georgia coast — and offered, ahem, a culinary tip.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The goddesses in these paintings have a serene air, with roots firmly anchored in the earth, but also a crown of leaves that sway with the wind.
    — Tatiane de Assis, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of root
Noun
  • The store was designed by Storage Milano in partnership with Tommasi Bardelle and is a physical manifestation of the brand.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 19 Oct. 2026
  • While invisible themselves, these cosmic behemoths reveal their presence by bending the light of nearby objects, and the Black Hole Hunters project is searching for one specific manifestation of this effect.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of manifestation
Noun
  • There's a kernel of truth to it; Ohtani was clearly limited by several injuries down the stretch, with a lengthy slump accompanying an increase in chase rate and swing and miss.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In their experiments, the team found silicon in the kernels before irradiation.
    — Muskan Bhatia, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of kernel

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Cite this Entry

“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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