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

Cox shot the film in Almería, Spain (the picturesque backdrop for hundreds of spaghetti Westerns), as well as parts of Arizona, and there’s an inviting spaciousness to it. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

The 58-acre property features picturesque cliffs more than 100 feet tall on its northern edge. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

On the civilian side, tourists come every summer for the beaches and the picturesque views of the sea and the mountains. — Greg Myre, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026

Frank Mauceri, founder of the legendary punk rock label Smog Veil Records, is selling the picturesque property on the outskirts of Santa Rosa for $6 million. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 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