Manque
noun
A person who has failed to live up to their own potential or dreams.
Despite his talent, he remained a manqué, never achieving the success he desired.
Often appears as...
- failed artist manqué
- scientist manqué
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
adjective
Unfinished or undeveloped.
Manqué approach towards his paintings left them to be seen as unfinished by critics.
Often appears as...
- manqué painting
- manqué project
Usage tips
Formal
Artistic
noun
A person who has failed to live up to their own potential or dreams.
Despite his talent, he remained a manqué, never achieving the success he desired.
Often appears as...
- failed artist manqué
- scientist manqué
Usage tips
Formal
Literary
adjective
Unfinished or undeveloped.
Manqué approach towards his paintings left them to be seen as unfinished by critics.
Often appears as...
- manqué painting
- manqué project
Usage tips
Formal
Artistic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Unfulfilled Potential
Use 'manqué' to express someone's unmet potential or dreams in a sympathetic or ironic manner.
A business manqué, she now teaches what could have been her practice.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Nuance
'Manqué' often carries a literary or intellectual nuance, elegant in expressing regret for what might have been.
He is known among friends as the poet manqué.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Critique
Can imply a critique, suggesting that despite opportunities, the individual did not achieve their aspirations.
Although a manqué in her field, she found a new passion.
Pro Tip 1/3Unfulfilled Potential
Use 'manqué' to express someone's unmet potential or dreams in a sympathetic or ironic manner.
A business manqué, she now teaches what could have been her practice.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Nuance
'Manqué' often carries a literary or intellectual nuance, elegant in expressing regret for what might have been.
He is known among friends as the poet manqué.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Critique
Can imply a critique, suggesting that despite opportunities, the individual did not achieve their aspirations.
Although a manqué in her field, she found a new passion.
Pro Tip 1/3Unfulfilled Potential
Use 'manqué' to express someone's unmet potential or dreams in a sympathetic or ironic manner.
A business manqué, she now teaches what could have been her practice.
Pro Tip 2/3Literary Nuance
'Manqué' often carries a literary or intellectual nuance, elegant in expressing regret for what might have been.
He is known among friends as the poet manqué.
Pro Tip 3/3Implicit Critique
Can imply a critique, suggesting that despite opportunities, the individual did not achieve their aspirations.
Although a manqué in her field, she found a new passion.
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Quote examples
Terry Eagleton
English Critic
You've got to have a sense of different audiences. I'm a kind of performer manque - I come from a long line of failed actors!
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
For whatever crispness and animation my writing has I give some credit to the cartoonist manque.
Quote examples
Terry Eagleton
English Critic
You've got to have a sense of different audiences. I'm a kind of performer manque - I come from a long line of failed actors!
Quote examples
John Updike
American Novelist
For whatever crispness and animation my writing has I give some credit to the cartoonist manque.
Example 1 of 2
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