pointillistic

adjective

poin·​til·​lis·​tic ˌpȯin-tə-ˈli-stik  ˌpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˈyi-stik 

variants or less commonly pointillist

ˈpȯin-tə-list  ˌpwaⁿ(n)-tē-ˈyēst 

1

: composed of many discrete details or parts

2

: of, relating to, or characteristic of pointillism or pointillists

Did you know?

In the late 19th century, Neo-Impressionists discovered that contrasting dots of color applied side by side would blend together and be perceived as a luminous whole when seen from a distance. With this knowledge, they developed the technique of pointillism, also known as divisionism. By the 1920s, the adjective pointillistic was being used as a word describing something having many details or parts, such as an argument or musical composition; it was then applied to the art of pointillism and its artists, the pointillists.

Examples of pointillistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Consisting of jamesjamesjames, Varg²™, Eurohead, and Skarp, the outfit nakedly endeavors to reappraise the richly earnest sounds of 2010s Swedish EDM, known for its pointillistic, high-octave melodies and counterpoints that, at their best, imbue big-room propulsion with butterflies in the stomach. — Nathan Evans, Pitchfork, 12 May 2026

The pointillistic eclecticism of @NYT_first_said does tend to highlight the linguistic extremes—the novelties and the gags and the groaners. — Max Norman, The New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2023

Its pointillistic portrait of the world of Earn, Glover’s character, could, at times, give us little onto which to grasp. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 7 Nov. 2022

His meta-narrative is not a pointillistic patchwork but a seamless tapestry. — Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2021

The piece then breaks into a pointillistic texture, with pluckings all around. — Tim Diovanni, Dallas News, 27 Apr. 2021

Use a power drill with varying sizes of bits to create an elegantly pointillistic design on your pumpkin…. — Beth Segal, cleveland, 15 Oct. 2020

Webber takes pointillistic dabs and flickers, volleys between trombone and piano, say, and conjures a solid rhythmic and melodic substance out of what at first sounds totally slippery and liquid. — John Adamian, courant.com, 17 Nov. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pointillistic

• agonistic
• altruistic
• animistic
• aphoristic
• atheistic
• atomistic
• cabalistic
• calvinistic
• chauvinistic
• dualistic
• egoistic
• egotistic

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