picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling a picture : suggesting a painted scene

b

: charming or quaint in appearance

2

: evoking mental images : vivid

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun

Synonyms of picturesque

• vivid
• graphic
• descriptive

Choose the Right Synonym for picturesque

graphic, vivid, picturesque mean giving a clear visual impression in words.

graphic stresses the evoking of a clear lifelike picture.

a graphic account of combat

vivid suggests an impressing on the mind of the vigorous aliveness of something.

a vivid re-creation of an exciting event

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

Examples of picturesque in a Sentence

The view of the mountains was very picturesque.

wrote a picturesque tale of their journey across the country

Recent Examples on the Web

Set on opposite ends of one of Michigan’s most picturesque lakes, Charlevoix and Boyne City each offer their own take on a summer lake getaway. —Taryn Shorr-McKee, Midwest Living, 4 May 2026

The Pirates – residents of one of the most picturesque ballparks in the country – specifically seemed primed to step into the spotlight. —Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 4 May 2026

Nestled in western North Carolina between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this cherished piece of the Tar Heel State includes picturesque Sylva, historic Dillsboro, and the beloved 200-year-old resort community of Cashiers. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 3 May 2026

Residents of the usually picturesque Russian resort town of Tuapse were this week warned not to leave the homes or open windows as authorities tackled intense fires from a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on the town’s oil refinery. —Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 1 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

French & Italian; French pittoresque, from Italian pittoresco, from pittore painter, from Latin pictor, from pingere

First Known Use

1705, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

picturesque

adjective

pic·​tur·​esque ˌpik-chə-ˈresk 

1

a

: resembling or suitable for a painted picture

a picturesque landscape

b

: charming, quaint

picturesque customs

2

: calling forth a striking mental picture

a picturesque story

picturesquely adverb

picturesqueness noun