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

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

Over the years, the company has expanded its remit, finding new and impressionistic ways to sell color, and itself as the arbiter thereof. —Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 19 Dec. 2025

Put forward by Germany, Mascha Schilinski’s hypnotic Sound of Falling, the impressionistic study of four generations of women in a rural small town, could impress more adventurous voters, and the same is true of Oliver Laxe’s Sirāt. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2025

Regard selection in May and hits U.S. theaters in December, is the most impressionistic film of the bunch. —Gregg Goldstein, Variety, 26 Nov. 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