pictorial 1 of 2

adjective

pik-ˈtȯr-ē-əl How to pronounce pictorial (audio)
Definition of pictorialnext
1
as in graphic
consisting of or relating to pictures that photojournalist is planning to do a primarily pictorial report on the famine in Africa

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in vivid
producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description she writes a very pictorial kind of poetry, using words the way a painter applies strokes of color

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pictorial

2 of 2

noun

as in edition

Related Words

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 pictorial
Adjective
Was there a pictorial representation of my book that would allow a deep dive view of how its different strands interacted to form a single narrative arc? — Literary Hub, 22 May 2026 Church, for all his scientific curiosity, was not moved to convert Darwinism into pictorial rhetoric. — Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Noun
Gibson, then 34, saw the pictorial in a classy, peekaboo way and even had a clothing budget. — Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 By 2010, the magazine was essentially family entertainment compared to the tidal wave of online smut, so a peek-a-boo pictorial of half-naked cybergals didn't seem so risqué. — Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for pictorial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pictorial
  1. graphic
  2. vivid
  3. edition
  4. photographic
  5. descriptive
  6. sheet
  7. visual
  8. tabloid
Adjective
  • The adorable whimsical ladybug graphic tee is an easy way to channel the quirky-cute Kate Spade aesthetic.
    — Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2026
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    — Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 14 July 2026
Definition of graphic
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
Definition of vivid
Noun
  • The Derby's public address announcer implored the fans to cheer during some quiet stretches when homers — non-Phillies edition — were hit.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • Among this edition’s highlights is the launch of Women in Fan LatAm, an extension of the WomanInFan initiative founded by the Sitges Int’l Film Festival as well as the continuation of Fantastic Lab Central America & Caribbean, introduced last year.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 13 July 2026
Definition of edition
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
Definition of photographic
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
Definition of descriptive
Noun
  • Would somebody try to poach Bedard or, considering the fact Davidson would have had no choice but to match any offer, cripple the Blackhawks from a roster-building standpoint by signing Bedard to an offer sheet?
    — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • Lift sheets, curtains and cushions to check for bed bugs or signs of bed bugs before settling in.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 18 July 2026
Definition of sheet
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
Definition of visual
Noun
  • The British tabloid reported that Bryon Noem paid adult entertainers and cross-dressed while role-playing.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 10 July 2026
  • The initial lawsuit was settled in December 2024, according to Mason, who did not offer details to the tabloid.
    — Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of tabloid

Browse Nearby Words

pictographs
pictorial
pictorialization
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pictorial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pictorial. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on pictorial

Nglish: Translation of pictorial for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dog days

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All