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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of essence
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These super-creamy truffles truly capture the essence of eggnog.
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Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024
The essence of Palm Springs Staying at Parker Palm Springs is a treat.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 20 Dec. 2024
And while the phrase snail essence may conjure images of slime, rest assured: the ingredient is silky, rather than slimy.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
Discover the enchanting essence of Exuma by taking part in the People-to-People Programme.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for essence 
Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2024
The essence of Palm Springs Staying at Parker Palm Springs is a treat.
—Catherine Garcia, theweek, 20 Dec. 2024
And while the phrase snail essence may conjure images of slime, rest assured: the ingredient is silky, rather than slimy.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
Discover the enchanting essence of Exuma by taking part in the People-to-People Programme.
—Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for essence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for essence
Noun
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Then there’s me, the one whose lack of innate ability seems to have defied both nature and nurture.Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
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From their hillside not far from the banks of the Ohio River, the Hills were able to pursue a passion for plants and nature which began for them both decades before in rural Illinois.Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Institutions can minimize their exposure to populist ire while maintaining credibility by narrowing their focus to core functions and avoiding controversial areas.Allison Carnegie, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2024
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Usually, these protostars gather enough mass to generate the pressures and temperatures in the core to fuse hydrogen to helium, which is the nuclear process that defines what a main sequence star is.Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Sickle cell disease arises from errors in a gene that makes hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen throughout the body and gives red blood cells their color.Emily Mullin, WIRED, 23 Dec. 2024
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The study found that there were declines across substances.Gord Magill, Newsweek, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
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However, sometimes salmonellosis can result in more serious ailments, such as blood infections, heart inflammation, joint stiffness, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Pisano and the two pig heart patients didn’t qualify for a human organ because of other medical issues.Emily Mullin, WIRED, 17 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Player 456) and the secret island where luckless souls are murdered in the name of rich people’s fun, under the pretense of playing a game.Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
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This year’s Disney Christmas Day parade features the legendary Elton John, soul sensation John Legend, and Broadway’s own Anika Noni Rose.Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 25 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Bread recommends applying a generous amount of oil from root to tip and leaving on for at least 20 minutes and as long as overnight.Marci Robin, Allure, 21 Dec. 2024
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Boswell navigates them with empathetic curiosity, always seeking out the root cause.Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But the blaze was the latest manifestation of a vicious cycle in which flammable invasive grasses are choking out fire-resistant vegetation in the Santa Monica Mountains.Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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Of course, Monster is also very much a manifestation of Laura's psyche, particularly her subsumed rage.Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Start with a kernel of an idea and then build from there.Tracy Brower, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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The kernels can become sticky during rainy or humid periods and plug up feeder ports.Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Essence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essence. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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