Synonyms of painting

painting 1 of 2

noun

ˈpān-tiŋ 

as in canvas

a picture created with oil paint

the Mona Lisa is a haunting painting of a woman with a most mysterious smile

Synonyms & Similar Words

• canvas
• mural
• watercolor
• oil
• fresco
• drawing
• panorama
• oil painting
• masterpiece
• etching
• sketch
• acrylic
• diptych
• gouache
• pastel
• triptych
• tempera
• finger painting
• distemper
• aquarelle
• showpiece
• pièce de résistance

painting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of paint

1

as in describing

to give a representation or account of in words

the description painted a perfect image of the sun setting over the ocean

Synonyms & Similar Words

• describing
• depicting
• portraying
• rendering
• sketching
• drawing
• setting out
• illustrating
• picturing
• delineating
• characterizing
• limning
• recounting
• defining
• imaging
• representing
• outlining
• relating
• displaying
• summarizing
• showing
• exhibiting
• telling
• narrating
• labeling
• reporting
• demonstrating
• tracing
• reciting
• suggesting
• qualifying
• rehearsing
• hinting
• drafting
• summing up
• silhouetting
• touching off
• reimaging
• redescribing
• vignetting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• coloring
• distorting
• twisting
• misrepresenting
• falsifying
• warping
• misstating
• perverting
• misdescribing
• garbling

2

as in tinting

to give color or a different color to

I've decided to paint the bathroom walls purple

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tinting
• staining
• coloring
• dyeing
• brightening
• pigmenting
• tingeing
• tincturing
• darkening
• striping
• bepainting
• lightening
• flecking
• dappling
• streaking
• daubing
• marbling
• toning (down)
• specking
• variegating
• striating
• patterning
• speckling
• mottling
• polychroming
• embrowning
• checkering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bleaching
• whitening
• decolorizing
• blanching

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of painting

Noun

Marina Warner Possessed of Alchemystic Powers Ithell Colquhoun improvised with Surrealist and occult divinatory techniques in her paintings, and also in her writing—and in this lies her true originality. — Conor Heffernan, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026

Wiener not only leaves behind a richly complex body of work straddling textiles, painting, photographs, and collages, but also a career intricately connected to one of the most important chapters of Austrian art. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Verb

In addition to painting the front door, Saab suggests adding a pair of plants either side of the door to really make the front of your home feel welcoming and inviting. — Kate McKenna, The Spruce, 26 Sep. 2026

Rosemary had a role in the millinery department, and John was part of the team that was painting and decorating the store. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing painting

• oil painting