SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
quintessential
adjective
Representing the most characteristic or ideal example of a type.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Most characteristic example
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topQuintessential means embodying the defining qualities especially fully. Typical and representative are less emphatic and need not imply an ideal.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See quintessential in use
The little bookshop was her quintessential place for a quiet afternoon.
One carefully composed kitchen scene was a quintessential example of the photographer's quiet, attentive style.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license