impressionistic

adjective

im·​pres·​sion·​is·​tic (ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-stik 

1

or impressionist

im-ˈpre-sh(ə-)nist 

, often Impressionistic : of, relating to, or constituting impressionism

2

: based on or involving impression as distinct from expertise or fact

… intuitions and impressionistic anecdotal accounts …

—Sidney Hook

impressionistically

(ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of impressionistic in a Sentence

He wrote an impressionistic account of the battle scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

Critics responded enthusiastically to Stewart’s impressionistic storytelling and casting Imogen Poots as Yuknavitch. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 8 Jan. 2026

Think of Matthieu Blazy’s debut at Chanel, a collection brimming with joy that blew florals up to impressionistic proportions. —Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2026

There have been two big changes in the last 20 years, one of them empirical and the other more impressionistic. —Allison Schrager, Twin Cities, 27 Dec. 2025

That subjective style—intense, impressionistic, and brutally candid—makes Dispatches one of the most influential pieces of war reportage ever written. —Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for impressionistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antagonistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic

Kids Definition

impressionistic

adjective

im·​pres·​sion·​is·​tic (ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-tik 

1

or impressionist

im-ˈpresh-(ə-)nəst 

often capitalized : of or relating to impressionism

an impressionistic style of painting

2

: based on or involving one's impressions rather than knowledge or facts

impressionistic descriptions

impressionistically

(ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb