painterly
adjective
paint·er·ly
ˈpān-tər-lē 
2
: suggestive or characteristic of a painting or of the art of painting
painterly photography
especially
: marked by an openness of form which is not linear and in which sharp outlines are lacking
painterly brushwork
painterliness
noun
Examples of painterly in a Sentence
He has a painterly eye.
a painterly picture of the sea
Recent Examples on the Web
But the painterly resources available to Raphael were vastly larger than those available to an artist a scant half century before, as the musical and lyrical resources available to a pop musician in 1970 were incommensurable with those available to a pop musician in 1960.
—
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
This layering mimics the painterly composition of classic English-style gardens.
Delphinium: These stately spires thrive in full sun and rich, well-draining soil.
—Lauren Dunec Hoang, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
Or even how the sky and its painterly clouds seem to carry on and on in perpetuity.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 July 2025
Jersey Bond’s closing look was another standout — a large muslin gown that was covered with masking tape for a painterly effect.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for painterly
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.
Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 28 July 2025
This layering mimics the painterly composition of classic English-style gardens.
Delphinium: These stately spires thrive in full sun and rich, well-draining soil.
—Lauren Dunec Hoang, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2025
Or even how the sky and its painterly clouds seem to carry on and on in perpetuity.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 July 2025
Jersey Bond’s closing look was another standout — a large muslin gown that was covered with masking tape for a painterly effect.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for painterly
Cite this Entry
“Painterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painterly. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share