impressionistic
adjective
im·pres·sion·is·tic
(ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-stik 
1
2
: based on or involving impression as distinct from expertise or fact
intuitions and impressionistic anecdotal accounts—
Sidney Hook
Sidney HookExamples of impressionistic in a Sentence
He wrote an impressionistic account of the battle scene.
Recent Examples on the Web
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
This Morning, This Evening (a portrait of a rural Alabama community in which Ross embedded himself), to Nickel Boys, his impressionistic bravura fiction feature debut about two Black boys sent to a reform school in Jim Crow–era Florida.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2025
His work is instantly recognizable, with vibrant, impressionistic swirls of purple, orange, green and red.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2025
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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
This Morning, This Evening (a portrait of a rural Alabama community in which Ross embedded himself), to Nickel Boys, his impressionistic bravura fiction feature debut about two Black boys sent to a reform school in Jim Crow–era Florida.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 22 Feb. 2025
His work is instantly recognizable, with vibrant, impressionistic swirls of purple, orange, green and red.
—John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 13 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for impressionistic
Cite this Entry
“Impressionistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impressionistic. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impressionistic
adjective
im·pres·sion·is·tic
(ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-tik
1
or impressionist
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
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