picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling a picture : suggesting a painted scene

b

: charming or quaint in appearance

2

: evoking mental images : vivid

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun

Synonyms

• vivid
• graphical
• graphic
• descriptive

Choose the Right Synonym for picturesque

graphic, vivid, picturesque mean giving a clear visual impression in words.

graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

picturesque suggests the presentation of a striking or effective picture composed of features notable for their distinctness and charm.

a picturesque account of his travels

Examples of picturesque in a Sentence

The view of the mountains was very picturesque.

wrote a picturesque tale of their journey across the country

Recent Examples on the Web

The Steelers just wrapped up training camp — a four-week-long football retreat held on the picturesque campus of St. Vincent College, roughly an hour east of Pittsburgh. —Mike Jones, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025

The fest’s closing night will take place in the picturesque Swiss town’s Piazza Grande on Saturday, with Kiss of the Spider Woman by Bill Condon as the closing film. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2025

Laguna Gri-Gri is a haven for tropical birds and a picturesque spot for a sunset cruise amidst mangroves and coastal coves. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025

For the event, Lipa sported a striking white cut-out Jacquemus dress on her picturesque Spanish vacation. —Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French & Italian; French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco, from pittore painter, from Latin pictor, from pingere

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling or suitable for a painted picture

a picturesque landscape

b

: charming, quaint

picturesque customs

2

: calling forth a striking mental picture

a picturesque story

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun