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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of essence
As an Earth sign, Taurus’ Venusian essence is grounded in the physical, making those born under this sign especially alluring and attractive.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
This work captures the essence of live entertainment by intertwining flames, light and music spelled out in marquee-style letters that float across the canal.
—Meredith G. White, AZCentral.com, 5 Nov. 2025
This is the essence of a politicized jury.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 4 Nov. 2025
In the past, Kennedy said, such rulings were generally limited to situations where time was of the essence, such as when a state was about to execute an inmate and an appeal for the person’s life was made to the court.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
Noun
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His failure to accomplish his objectives does not mitigate the profoundly dangerous nature of his crimes.—
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Food and drink All meals are served at Little River, the floating restaurant that opened in 2022 with a massive wooden bar, cozy fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking nature's symphony of wildlife outside.—
Noun
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Visa and MasterCard have responded to growing scrutiny with minor, cosmetic adjustments, but the core problem remains unchanged.—
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Instead, creators will take on the role of consultants, as brands develop more substantial partnerships with the talent that now make up such a core part of their marketing strategies.—
Noun
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Police arrested Andy Alcantara-Beltre, 33, of Dorchester and charged him with unlawful possession of a gun and ammunition, trafficking a Class A substance (over 100 grams), and possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance (crack cocaine).—
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These substances are crucial in producing everything from electric vehicle batteries to cutting-edge military hardware — vital currency in the global tech battle with China and others.—
Noun
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Kipling City Pack Backpack Pocket space is at the very heart of this backpack’s design, which has over five different compartments on the interior and exterior.—
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What the museum dream team did not see was the pain in our hearts about this jail.—
Noun
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Despite the snappy interiors, replete with a mural, crimson paint and a wall of soaring floor-to-ceiling windows (ideal for people watching while adding heaps of natural light to the space), the soul of Tacos Los Cholos remains untouched.—
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Designers and clients agree 'soul' is the most important home trend of the year.—
Noun
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No one could trace the secret roots of Skinny Pedro’s devotion to the world of machines.—
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Short-term fixes alone are unlikely to address the root causes of affordability and, if misguided, could even prove counterproductive.—
Noun
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Consciously choosing the design of this polish, applying it calmly, and visualizing your wishes for the new year transforms the manicure into an act of self-care and manifestation.—
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In the Eastern rites of the Catholic Church, Theophany, which the holiday is often called in Eastern countries, celebrates the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity in addition to his baptism, according to The Catholic Witness.—
Noun
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Waymon Cox, an assistant park superintendent, compared the diamond to a corn kernel.—
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It’s served alongside a slab of cold sweet potato and garnished with hefty kernels of the dent corn called choclo.—
Cite this Entry
“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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