impressionistic

adjective

im·​pres·​sion·​is·​tic (ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-stik 

1

or impressionist

im-ˈpre-sh(ə-)nist 

often capitalized : of, relating to, or constituting impressionism

2

: based on or involving impression as distinct from expertise or fact

intuitions and impressionistic anecdotal accounts

—Sidney Hook

impressionistically

(ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of impressionistic in a Sentence

He wrote an impressionistic account of the battle scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

The book is very short and impressionistic, just a series of encounters with different characters. —The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2025

While his initial work was hushed and impressionistic, Longlegs was more flamboyant with its thrills. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 7 Feb. 2025

Instead, the film adopts an impressionistic approach by allowing O’Neill’s numerous alternative theories to emerge from the historical wreckage. —Vikram Murthi, IndieWire, 6 Mar. 2025

There’s no saying filmmakers can’t create impressionistic portraits of famous figures, but this one drifts away so lazily that there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly pertinent to Lincoln’s legacy or impact in its making. —Will Leitch, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for impressionistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antagonistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic

Kids Definition

impressionistic

adjective

im·​pres·​sion·​is·​tic (ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-tik 

1

or impressionist

im-ˈpresh-(ə-)nəst 

often capitalized : of or relating to impressionism

an impressionistic style of painting

2

: based on or involving one's impressions rather than knowledge or facts

impressionistic descriptions

impressionistically

(ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb