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 of picturesque

• vivid
• graphic
• descriptive

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

The Hunza Valley is located in northern Pakistan and draws travelers with dramatic mountain landscapes, turquoise lakes and picturesque villages set beneath towering Karakoram peaks. — Ashley Lynch july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Enough of the shoot was done in Provincetown itself to provide a warm evocation of the popular Massachusetts summertime destination, even if the movie could almost be accused of straight-washing its picturesque setting. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026

She was also photographed looking out at the picturesque mountains with one of her brothers. — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 29 July 2026

Let’s take a close-up look at what’s happening in this picturesque midcoast community. — Judy Stone, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1705, 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