picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling a picture : suggesting a painted scene

b

: charming or quaint in appearance

2

: evoking mental images : vivid

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun

Synonyms

• delineated
• graphic
• graphical
• pictorial
• visual
• vivid

Choose the Right Synonym for picturesque

graphic, vivid, picturesque mean giving a clear visual impression in words.

graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

picturesque suggests the presentation of a striking or effective picture composed of features notable for their distinctness and charm.

a picturesque account of his travels

Examples of picturesque in a Sentence

The view of the mountains was very picturesque.

wrote a picturesque tale of their journey across the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Produced in a state-of-the-art palenque in the historical and picturesque city of Puebla, Mexico, this mildly smoky mezcal offers yet another way to gently enter the mezcal world. —Richard Carleton Hacker, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2025

And the other numbers on his stats page were just as picturesque. —Jayson Stark, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025

According to Travel & Leisure, the All Stars villa, known as Ludus Magnus, is nestled between a picturesque mountain range and a wine valley in Franschhoek. —Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Getty often leads hiking groups up the four-mile route, which leads to a picturesque waterfall. —Gavin Feek, Outside Online, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French & Italian; French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco, from pittore painter, from Latin pictor, from pingere

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling or suitable for a painted picture

a picturesque landscape

b

: charming, quaint

picturesque customs

2

: calling forth a striking mental picture

a picturesque story

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun