impressionistic
adjective
im·pres·sion·is·tic
(ˌ)im-ˌpre-shə-ˈni-stik 
1
2
: based on or involving impression as distinct from expertise or fact
… intuitions and impressionistic anecdotal accounts …—
Sidney Hook
Sidney HookExamples of impressionistic in a Sentence
He wrote an impressionistic account of the battle scene.
Recent Examples on the Web
On March 24, the space brings together Maria Somerville and Joanne Robertson, impressionistic artists who broke out with mesmerizing records last year.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
These works are Impressionistic, displaying washes of scenes featuring elements like lily pads and flowers, some of them incorporating gold leaf as an accent in reference to the Japanese kintsugi technique.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
While the lengthy interviews with Yo are gentle and tasteful (including scenes of her in the nude), the movie’s editing in more impressionistic scenes takes on the same semi-abstract qualities as Fitch’s representations, which seem to live halfway between the material and the emotional.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
From a distance, the ritual might seem mysterious—an impressionistic scene of fleshy, wading creatures at a watering hole.
—Rick Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
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Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2026
These works are Impressionistic, displaying washes of scenes featuring elements like lily pads and flowers, some of them incorporating gold leaf as an accent in reference to the Japanese kintsugi technique.
—Evan Nicole Brown, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
While the lengthy interviews with Yo are gentle and tasteful (including scenes of her in the nude), the movie’s editing in more impressionistic scenes takes on the same semi-abstract qualities as Fitch’s representations, which seem to live halfway between the material and the emotional.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2026
From a distance, the ritual might seem mysterious—an impressionistic scene of fleshy, wading creatures at a watering hole.
—Rick Jordan, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impressionistic
Cite this Entry
“Impressionistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impressionistic. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
impressionistic
adjective
im·pres·sion·is·tic
(ˌ)im-ˌpresh-ə-ˈnis-tik
1
or impressionist
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
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