Exquisite
adj.joyful, thoughtfulliterary
What it means
Exceptionally beautiful or finely made, with details that reward close attention.
Reach for it when praising beauty joined to delicacy, precision, or rare craft
The cabinet contains exquisite carvings of the birds that nest nearby.
Choose between these
7- playful
a little jewel
when small scale and concentrated charm deserve affection
not when The metaphor sounds precious and is wrong for large or austere work.
- everyday
when visual or emotional pleasure is the essential praise
not when Beauty covers many forms; exquisite specifically adds fine detail or craft.
- warm
when fine detail and lightness are prominent
not when Delicacy can mean fragility and is not itself a judgment of beauty.
- professional
when polish and restraint result from careful improvement
not when Refinement can be cool or minimal rather than intensely beautiful.
- formal
when flawless finish is the specific virtue
not when Immaculate work can be sterile and need not be beautiful.
- formal
when exceptional quality matters more than appearance
not when Superb fits robust performance as readily as fine craftsmanship.
- literary
when rich materials and sensory luxury create the appeal
not when Sumptuous is abundant and nearly opposite to spare, delicate exquisiteness.
Said against
4- crude
- ugly
- coarse
- ordinary
It naturally appears in
3- exquisite detail
One exquisite detail hides the maker's initials among the leaves.
- exquisite craftsmanship
Exquisite craftsmanship keeps every joint nearly invisible.
- exquisite beauty
The shell's exquisite beauty became apparent under gentle light.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective, adjective sense meaning extremely beautiful, delicate, or finely made opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.