graphic 1 of 2

Definition of graphicnext
variants also graphical

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective graphic differ from other similar words?

The words picturesque and vivid are common synonyms of graphic. While all three words mean "giving a clear visual impression in words," graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

When can picturesque be used instead of graphic?

Although the words picturesque and graphic have much in common, 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

When would vivid be a good substitute for graphic?

In some situations, the words vivid and graphic are roughly equivalent. However, vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of graphic
Noun
Nintendo gives Star Fox 64 its third paint job with Star Fox on the Switch 2, a remake with better graphics at higher resolutions than was ever possible before. Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026 The decision to use AMD graphics processors is part of an effort to ensure price competitiveness in the capital-intensive autonomous driving arena. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
Adjective
Jennifer Lawrence, an acolyte of New York cool-girl ease, paired her graphic tee with similarly trending Bermuda shorts to run errands in the city. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 July 2026 The cameras were allowed, but the judge prevented them from capturing some of the graphic footage that was played in court. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for graphic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for graphic
Noun
  • In a flourish of dramatic irony usually reserved for Greek tragedies and Titanic retellings, the guide opens with an illustration in the style of a CPN, proudly proclaiming the genre’s longevity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
  • Paint to paper, needle to thread—like couture, fashion illustration is a discipline of the hand.
    Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 13 July 2026
Adjective
  • One of her most vivid memories came not while volunteering, but the morning after the Centennial Olympic Park bombing.
    Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Their sparkling glass cases were full of heaping cream puffs, vivid cupcakes and caramel colored pastries.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
Adjective
  • Nolan's non-linear storytelling and minimal exposition challenge some, yet the visual grandeur and powerful performances, including Anne Hathaway's Penelope and a diverse ensemble, are undeniable.
    Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Aside from locomotion, scientists can equip the cockroaches to attain various other functions such as detection, localization, tracking, visual mapping, and data collection.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Students could then be assigned a diagram of the water cycle with missing labels; filling in the blanks on the diagram offers them a hands-on activity to reinforce the information in the quiz.
    Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 7 July 2026
  • Now, yes, staring at the ceiling long enough to draw you a diagram of the paint peeling.
    Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • These sentences are part of a four-plus-page descriptive riff, one of many passages that lend the novel a teeming, avid opacity.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 July 2026
  • All the trappings of rage—the non-descriptive mentions of drug intake, the unspecified sadness, the shock-rock innuendos—are unshakeable.
    Eli Enis, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026
Adjective
  • This larger image area allows for much more photographic information to be captured, which translates to a larger, sharper image with greater detail and low film grain (sandlike texture caused by light-sensitive particles in the film).
    Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
  • Digital cameras had taken over nearly all areas of photographic production.
    Rotem Rozental, Fortune, 14 July 2026
Noun
  • The flag was also draped over Khamenei’s casket in images published last week by his official X account.
    Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Rodríguez Castro, the person said, projects a similar tough-guy image.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Follow the specific directions from your doctor and the exact type of medicine, first and foremost.
    Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Multiple readers of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and 11Alive viewers have reached out to me with this specific concern.
    Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Graphic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/graphic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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