painterly

adjective

paint·​er·​ly ˈpān-tər-lē How to pronounce painterly (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or typical of a painter : artistic
painterly attention to detail
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
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.
Fforme’s liquid silk dresses shimmered with ease, and Ulla Johnson’s abstract painterly prints struck a vibrant chord. Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2025 The array of ferocious brushstrokes, scratches, and painterly drips amplify the complex dialogue, inviting the viewer’s interpretation. Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025 Known for their painterly approach to photography, the brothers reject digital manipulation in favor of experimental techniques. Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 10 Sep. 2025 At Rùn, the hotel’s serene Chinese pavilion, the Cantonese dishes come plated with painterly grace. AFAR Media, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for painterly

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of painterly was circa 1586

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Cite this Entry

“Painterly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painterly. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

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