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
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Recent Examples of essence
The essence of being vulnerable has helped others out of their situations.
—
Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
Your brand’s essence should remain recognizable, even as the details shift.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
If a watch is in fact stolen, time is of the essence.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2025
Turner’s music perfectly evokes on an emotional level the sentiment of the film, the essence of a place and people that only exist in the past, Aljafari adds.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for essence
Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
Your brand’s essence should remain recognizable, even as the details shift.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2025
If a watch is in fact stolen, time is of the essence.
—Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 11 Aug. 2025
Turner’s music perfectly evokes on an emotional level the sentiment of the film, the essence of a place and people that only exist in the past, Aljafari adds.
—Ed Meza, Variety, 7 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
Noun
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Serena and Leah comfort her and talk about their own experiences with death and the nonlinear nature of grief.—
Olivia Crandall,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
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The suite’s interiors reflect the nature on the doorstep, with a soothing color palette of earthy browns, soft taupes and warm greens.—
Angelina Villa-Clarke,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The core of the team remains in place, which puts pressure on 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy to play at a high level or at least not mess things up.—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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The July consumer price index was relatively in line with market forecasts, though the core reading that excludes food and energy nudged higher to 3.1%, a bit above Wall Street expectations.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Mike’s mental health struggles, and potentially his substance abuse, have contributed to a narrative that’s isolating him.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a White House executive order last month seeks to bring back the old model, directing federal agencies to end funding for organizations that offer housing to people without first requiring treatment for substance abuse or serious mental illnesses.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Frierson, 60, who stands 6-feet tall, has made good use of her comeback story — and her big heart and big personality — to attract supporters from all over Nashville, including the city's most affluent areas.—
Brad Schmitt,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
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Candida auris can infect the bloodstream and even cause death by invading the blood, heart and brain, the CDC said.—
Joyce Orlando,
Nashville Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The soul of the person who wrote it, those that read it and dreamed with it.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
The Courier-Journal,
18 Aug. 2025
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Beating Gauff on her own patch will need a hard soul and mindset.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The first verses unspooled over a simple I-V-IV progression, one of the most fundamental sets of chord changes in folk and pop music, each verse ending with a brief upward progression that climbed back to the root chord in time for the next set of lines.—
Peter Ames Carlin,
Rolling Stone,
13 Aug. 2025
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Here's everything to know about the event, including this year's theme, schedule and a brief history of its Cincinnati roots.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In many ways, Vance’s rise has been a compelling manifestation of that retreat.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
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Prior to the tumor's manifestation, her only symptom had been a sore arm, which the doctors chalked up to arthritis.—
Simar Bajaj,
NPR,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Google also stopped publishing complete kernel modification histories and new binary drivers, further hampering independent development efforts.—
Federico Guerrini,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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The kernels are so juicy and just burst in your mouth.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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