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

Review There are sprawling meadows made for picnicking, walking trails that snake through dense forests, and a picturesque lake. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Aug. 2026

In a picturesque village, the mayor closed a road, setting off a storm with residents and the owners of a castle that once belonged to his family. — Peter Baker Alessandro Falco Mark Landler Michelle Goldberg, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have yet to comment publicly on the buzz about their move back to the UK six years after settling in picturesque Montecito, California. — Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Aug. 2026

Cornell University Located in Ithaca, New York, Cornell Universiry took third spot thanks to its picturesque setting. — Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 20 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