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

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 picturesque Arguably the property’s most impressive feature are the picturesque grounds. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2025 In the short film, Pitt walks into his picturesque kitchen and heads for the coffeemaker on his counter. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 The cattle and horses are gone, moved to make room for a residential community called Trinity Estates Phase III in what is a picturesque corner of the city, not far from Benbrook Lake, where the Clear Fork of the Trinity River flows. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2025 The 11th is a picturesque short par three that plays across the rocks, coastline left and deep bunkers right. Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for picturesque
Recent Examples of Synonyms for picturesque
Adjective
  • Artificial intelligence offers a vivid example.
    Maurice Obeid, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • According to the Michigan State University Forestry Extension, the most vivid displays of fall foliage come after a stretch of warm days with plenty of sunshine and cool nights.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
    Lisa Baker Gibbs, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Shortly after, graphic close-up videos of the attack began proliferating on X and TikTok.
    Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This has been driven, in part, by the explosive growth of Google’s Nano Banana model, which allows for image editing through descriptive prompts rather than the more traditional photographic editing tools.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • On sleep in particular, Whoop is distinctly more prescriptive than descriptive.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 15 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Picturesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/picturesque. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on picturesque

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!