brushstroke

noun

brush·​stroke ˈbrəsh-ˌstrōk 

: the configuration given to paint by contact with the bristles of a brush

also : the paint left on a surface by a single application of a brush or palette knife

—often used figuratively to describe the quality especially of a narrative or description

a story told in broad brushstrokes

Examples of brushstroke in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Homemade Home Décor After years of hyper-polished feeds and showroom-perfect homes, people are embracing the beauty of imperfection by celebrating texture, visible brushstrokes, uneven stitching, and layered finishes. —Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026

Belgian art historian and professor Michel Draguet authored a 600-page report featuring a critical analysis of the painting, noting its use of light, chiaroscuro, multidirectional brushstrokes, and composition, as typical of works by Michelangelo’s hand. —News Desk, Artforum, 12 Mar. 2026

During a beach day, Alba rocked a funky black-and-white brushstroke bikini. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 21 Feb. 2026

The first note, brushstroke, or sentence is meaningless; an unfinished first paragraph is humiliating. —Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brushstroke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke