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

La Chapelle Saint-Pierre Jean Cocteau’s influence can be felt across the French Riviera, from Menton to Hyères, but this jewel-box of a fishermen's chapel, with every surface covered in the artist’s signature whimsical brushstrokes, is the French writer and artist’s most beloved legacy. —Chrissie McClatchie, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025

The last decision an artist makes is deciding when a piece is finished, when one more brushstroke might ruin the painting. —James Folta september 19, Literary Hub, 19 Sep. 2025

Serge’s new painting, a barely discernible melange of white brushstrokes, is but a fuse that ignites lingering resentments about class, women, and philosophy among the trio. —Christopher Barnard, Vogue, 17 Sep. 2025

The array of ferocious brushstrokes, scratches, and painterly drips amplify the complex dialogue, inviting the viewer’s interpretation. —Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 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