exquisite

/ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɛkskwəzət] /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈɛkskwəzət] /ek-ˈskwi-zət ik-ˈskwi-zət ˈek-(ˌ)skwi-/ (ame, mw)

exquisite — adjective

  • exquisitepositive
  • more exquisitecomparative
  • most exquisitesuperlative

1. having rare beauty, with small details shaped or finished with great skill

1.形容詞C1
釋義

having rare beauty, with small details shaped or finished with great skill

例句

Amira wore an exquisite silver necklace shaped like falling leaves.

exquisite + object for fine crafted beauty

Inside the hall stood an exquisite screen of carved red wood.

同義詞
  • beautiful

    broader and less focused on fine detail

  • elegant

    stresses grace and style more than craftsmanship

  • refined

    suggests polished taste rather than visual richness alone

反義詞
  • plain

    lacks decorative beauty or fine detail

  • coarse

    suggests roughness and no refinement

文法句型

exquisite + object

exquisite + detail/design

用法筆記

Most often used for art, design, food, clothing, or objects whose beauty comes from fine detail and careful making. Distinguish this sense from sense 2, which focuses on intense feeling or exceptional quality rather than visible beauty.

常見錯誤

❌She wore an exquisite plain T-shirt from the gym.
✅She wore an exquisite silk jacket with tiny hand-sewn beads.
💡this sense usually praises delicate beauty or fine workmanship, not an ordinary everyday item.

2. so sharp, deep, or unusually fine that it affects you with full force

2.形容詞C2
釋義

so sharp, deep, or unusually fine that it affects you with full force

例句

The cold water brought exquisite pain back to Ziad's cut finger.

exquisite + pain for sharply felt sensation

Maja felt exquisite relief when the missing boy walked inside.

同義詞
  • intense

    general word for strong feeling or force

  • acute

    often used for pain or sharply felt awareness

  • superb

    fits outstanding quality more than strong feeling

反義詞
  • dull

    lacks sharp feeling or vivid effect

  • slight

    suggests only a small degree

文法句型

exquisite + pain/pleasure/relief

exquisite + timing/care

用法筆記

Often used in more literary or elevated English for pain, pleasure, relief, care, or timing at a very high level. Unlike sense 1, the focus is not mainly on appearance; unlike sense 3, it describes the strength or excellence of an experience or quality, not a person's sensitive judgment.

常見錯誤

❌The chair gave exquisite comfort after the trip.
✅The letter brought exquisite relief after the long silence.
💡this sense usually marks something sharply felt or exceptionally fine, not just ordinary comfort.

3. able to notice tiny differences and respond with delicate understanding or judgm

3.形容詞C2
釋義

able to notice tiny differences and respond with delicate understanding or judgment

例句

Christopher has an exquisite ear for small changes in a singer's voice.

exquisite ear for noticing fine differences

The nurse showed exquisite sensitivity when Noa winced before the injection.

同義詞
  • sensitive

    broader and less focused on fine discrimination

  • discerning

    stresses good judgment about small differences

  • perceptive

    emphasises noticing what others miss

反義詞
  • insensitive

    fails to notice feelings or fine differences

  • blunt

    lacks subtle response or delicacy

文法句型

exquisite + sense/ear/taste

exquisite + sensitivity/judgment

用法筆記

Usually used for a person's ear, taste, understanding, or judgment when they can notice very small differences. Distinguish this sense from sense 2: here the subject possesses the sensitivity, rather than something being felt intensely.

常見錯誤

❌The table has exquisite understanding of space.
✅The designer has an exquisite sense of space.
💡this sense belongs to people or human-like judgment, not ordinary objects.