expressionism

1 of 2

noun

ex·​pres·​sion·​ism ik-ˈspre-shə-ˌni-zəm 

variants often Expressionism

: a theory or practice in art of seeking to depict the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist

expressionist

ik-ˈspre-shə-nist 

noun or adjective

often Expressionist

expressionistic

ik-ˌspre-shə-ˈni-stik 

adjective

expressionistically

ik-ˌspre-shə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

expressionistic

2 of 2

adjective

ex·​pres·​sion·​is·​tic ik¦spreshə¦nistik 

ek¦-

: expressionist

her art has always been highly expressionistic, which is to say that it is basically motivated by psychological forces and not solely by the autonomous demands of plastic form

—Rhys Gwyn

expressionistically

-tə̇k(ə)lē 

-tēk-, 

-li

adverb

Examples of expressionism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Impressionism, expressionism, surrealism, and modern art emerged not despite photography, but because of it. —Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 3 June 2026

That, to me, is indicative of German expressionism, the choreography. —Marlow Stern, Variety, 27 May 2026

There were tributes to expressionism and abstraction and mythology and film, to the human form in art as well as the distorting liberties art takes with it. —Ashley Fetters Maloy, Washington Post, 5 May 2026

The Surrealism art movement slowly declined in the 1950s and ’60s, giving way to the the rise of expressionism and pop art. —Pamela Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1901, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing expressionism

• abstract expressionism

Rhymes for expressionism

• activism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism
• calvinism