picturesque
Americanadjective
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visually charming or quaint, as if resembling or suitable for a painting.
a picturesque fishing village.
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(of writing, speech, etc.) strikingly graphic or vivid; creating detailed mental images.
a picturesque description of the Brazilian jungle.
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having pleasing or interesting qualities; strikingly effective in appearance.
a picturesque hat.
adjective
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visually pleasing, esp in being striking or vivid
a picturesque view
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having a striking or colourful character, nature, etc
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(of language) graphic; vivid
Related Words
Picturesque, graphic, vivid apply to descriptions that produce a strong, especially a visual, impression. Picturesque is a less precise term than the other two. A picturesque account, though striking and interesting, may be inaccurate or may reflect personal ideas: He called the landscape picturesque. A graphic account is more objective and factual: it produces a clear, definite impression, and carries conviction. A vivid account is told with liveliness and intenseness; the description is so interesting, or even exciting, that the reader or hearer may be emotionally stirred.
Other Word Forms
- picturesquely adverb
- picturesqueness noun
- unpicturesque adjective
- unpicturesquely adverb
- unpicturesqueness noun
Etymology
Origin of picturesque
First recorded in 1695–1705; from French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco ( pittor(e) painter 1 + -esco -esque ), with assimilation to picture
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Fastvold turns a singular strangeness into something so familiar and warm — a picturesque version of religious worship where anyone and everyone may find comfort in a community of voices, all singing the same song.
From Salon
Amsterdam’s canals may be gloriously picturesque, but try finding the elbow room to get a decent photo.
Los Angeles doesn’t have the most majestic skyline, but it’s so picturesque in that moment.
From Los Angeles Times
The camp sits on a picturesque hill flanked by tea plantations, well-stocked by NGOs from the United Nations, World Food Programme and others.
From Barron's
In 2024, she offloaded a picturesque compound in Los Angeles for more than $300,000 over her $3.99 million asking price, securing a buyer for the property just a few weeks after she listed it.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
