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

This week, Jews in this picturesque pocket of Australia’s eastern coast buried their dead in funerals livestreamed to the diaspora worldwide. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025

This is the heart of Green Spain, where travelers linger longer — staying in historic lodging, sampling seafood in picturesque settings like Luarca, and wandering trails while discovering other small, traditional villages where life unfolds in its own unhurried yet fully intentional pace. —Spain Tourism, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025

There were a variety of light exhibits from horoscope themed lights to icy kingdoms and romantic picturesque hearts and roses for couples to enjoy. —Sacbee.com, 16 Dec. 2025

Welcome to Derry season 2, including whether Skarsgård will be back to terrorize more children of the picturesque Maine town. —Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 15 Dec. 2025

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