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

Her vast range of brushstrokes and marks, whether meticulous or unintentional, seems infinite and intrinsically intertwined. —Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Some of my favorite brushstroke ceramic pieces in the space were by Okinawan artist Kyoji Matsuda, working to preserve the thousand-year-old heritage of Ryukyuan pottery. —Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2025

In a world hungry for authentic representation, Barnett’s work reminds us that liberation begins with visibility—one brushstroke, one clay pot, one boldly told story at a time. —Byron Armstrong, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025

Another one of our favorite modern wall clocks is this Japanese design that employs ash wood with graphic brushstrokes of black or white for contrast. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2025

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