Synonyms of picturesque

picturesque

adjective

ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

as in vivid

producing a mental picture through clear and impressive description

wrote a picturesque tale of their journey across the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

• vivid
• graphical
• graphic
• descriptive
• specific
• expressive
• pictorial
• visual
• delineated
• depicted
• realistic
• explicit
• photographic
• concrete
• fresh
• natural
• faithful
• lifelike
• sharp
• incisive

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obscure
• vague
• sketchy
• unclear
• indeterminate
• nebulous
• dark
• shadowy
• muddy
• foggy
• faint
• hazy
• indistinct
• dim
• fuzzy
• indefinite
• murky
• blurry
• indistinguishable
• mysterious
• ambiguous
• enigmatic
• bleary
• inscrutable
• cryptic
• equivocal
• shadowlike
• enigmatical

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective picturesque differ from other similar words?

The words graphic and vivid are common synonyms of picturesque. While all three words mean "giving a clear visual impression in words," 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 could graphic be used to replace picturesque?

In some situations, the words graphic and picturesque are roughly equivalent. However, graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

When is it sensible to use vivid instead of picturesque?

The synonyms vivid and picturesque are sometimes interchangeable, but vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of picturesque

Comprising some 120 acres of verdant gardens and greenery in the picturesque enclave of Santa Margherita di Pula, Forte Village Resort is a world unto itself, spanning one of Italy’s most dazzling stretches of coastline. —Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Framed by the picturesque Book Cliffs with the majestic Grand Mesa looming above, a weekend here feels like immersion in another world. —Shauna Farnell, Denver Post, 15 Aug. 2025

Westport, a small coastal town in picturesque County Mayo, is the unlikely nerve center of the world’s Botox supply. —Kara Fox, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025

This coastal state is not just a summer hot spot; come September, there are trails to hike and picturesque paths to bike along. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025