Synonyms for epitome
Most common
conspectus compend quintessential quintessence paragon acme abbreviature
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Summary — A brief summary of a text
summary, abstract, abbreviation, abridgment US, abridgement UK, compendium, synopsis, sum, reduction, contraction, syllabus, breviary, digest, curtailment, conspectus, compend, brief dated
2. Quintessential — A representative example
quintessential, quintessence, embodiment, archetype, exemplar, microcosm, representative, poster child US CA, eponym dated
3. Paragon — the embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The embodiment or encapsulation of a class of items.
- n. 2
A representative example.
- n. 3
A brief summary of a text.
Related words
- Word family
- epitomist epitomize epitomator epitomizer
Forms
- Plural
- epitomes → summaries, abstracts, abbreviations, abridgments…
Choose the right word
An epitome, compend, or compendium is a condensed view of a subject, whether derived from a previous publication or not. We may have an epitome of religion, a compendium of English literature, but not an abridgment.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- quintessential Widgets are the quintessential model product.
- quintessence Unicorns use quintessence for magical purposes.
- paragon By all accounts, Fr. Mulligan was a paragon of virtue.
- acme Actually his work has reached the acme of perfection.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| epitome | rising | |
| conspectus | falling | |
| compend | falling | |
| quintessential | rising | |
| quintessence | steady | |
| paragon | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- sum1
- 4 letters
- type1, acme2
- 5 letters
- model2, image2, brief1
- 6 letters
- digest2, eponym
- 7 letters
- pattern2, summary3, paragon3, compend
- 8 letters
- abstract2, paradigm3, synopsis3, syllabus3, exemplar3, breviary
- 9 letters
- reduction3, prototype3, archetype3, microcosm4
- 10 letters
- embodiment4, compendium4, abridgment, conspectus
- 11 letters
- contraction3, curtailment3, abridgement3
- 12 letters
- abbreviation5, quintessence3, abbreviature
- 14 letters
- representative5, quintessential4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (acme2 = 2 syllables).