ex·pres·sion·ism
ik-ˈspre-shə-ˌni-zəm 
variants
often Expressionism
: a theory or practice in art of seeking to depict the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse in the artist
ex·pres·sion·is·tic
ik¦spreshə¦nistik
ek¦-
: expressionist
her art has always been highly expressionistic, which is to say that it is basically motivated by psychological forces and not solely by the autonomous demands of plastic form—
Rhys Gwyn
Rhys GwynExamples of expressionism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Impressionism, expressionism, surrealism, and modern art emerged not despite photography, but because of it.
—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2026
That, to me, is indicative of German expressionism, the choreography.
—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
27 May 2026
There were tributes to expressionism and abstraction and mythology and film, to the human form in art as well as the distorting liberties art takes with it.
—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expressionism
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Noun
Apparently, this change took place in 2022 when Ankara, the capital of Turkey, sent in a formal request to rebrand its country's name to a name that better highlights its culture and expressionism.
—
Zach Dean Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
Impressionism, expressionism, surrealism, and modern art emerged not despite photography, but because of it.
—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2026
That, to me, is indicative of German expressionism, the choreography.
—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
27 May 2026
There were tributes to expressionism and abstraction and mythology and film, to the human form in art as well as the distorting liberties art takes with it.
—
Ashley Fetters Maloy,
Washington Post,
5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expressionism
Cite this Entry
“Expressionism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expressionism. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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