adverb
1In an extremely beautiful and delicate manner.
‘exquisitely crafted sculptures’
- ‘she sings exquisitely’
- ‘His small, exquisitely crafted pictures could look a bit twee.’
- ‘This exquisitely crafted sword was built for strength and speed.’
- ‘Shades of amber light play upon the heavy wooden ceiling beams and exquisitely embroidered wall hangings.’
- ‘These small exquisitely carved ivory figurines come in an almost limitless variety.’
- ‘These are exquisitely detailed works of architecture.’
2often as submodifier In an intensely felt manner.
‘the exquisitely painful portrait of a marriage collapsing’
- ‘I am exquisitely afraid of their hatred.’
- ‘He is exquisitely aware of the extent to which he follows in his father's traumatic path.’
- ‘She did not say it to her cousin, but she was exquisitely happy regarding his upcoming marriage.’
- ‘Individual ulcers were exquisitely painful.’
- ‘It's really an exquisitely scary guessing game, but also kind of exciting, at the same time.’
- 2.1In a highly sensitive or discriminating manner.
‘she was always exquisitely attuned to her mother's moods’
- ‘The building's design is exquisitely tasteful.’
- ‘He was exquisitely attuned to the need for public relations.’
- ‘Plants and animals are often exquisitely adapted to living in the desert.’
- ‘Their every business process needed to become exquisitely calibrated to respond instantly to whatever got thrown at them.’
- ‘Intelligence, special operations forces, and diplomacy will have to be exquisitely coordinated.’