word painting

noun

1. an effective verbal description.
2. tone painting.

Other Words From

• word painter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of word painting¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

“Also, there’s very traditional word painting. You go up to heaven, and he goes up the scale. It’s this wonderful combination of trickery and things that are quite obvious and theatrical.”

From New York Times

Adams enunciated words like a deep-toned voice-over artist and used classic Handelian word painting in the aria “The people that walked in darkness,” adopting a shadowy tone before opening up into resplendent high notes on the word “light.”

From New York Times

By the end, after sadly beautiful word painting with the “Kyrie eleison” text and a clarinet solo of upward runs, Bryan arrives at a finale that is less restful and resolved than a traditional Requiem’s, but more cyclical, closing with the “mmm” vocalise that started the piece.

From New York Times

I chose the word “painting” because when I was in grad school — other painters have had this experience too — painting was dead.

From Los Angeles Times

To drive home the fickleness of the salesroom, Christie’s, on Wednesday, achieved an auction high for an Ed Ruscha work, fetching $52.5 million for the Prince of Pop’s 1964 word painting “Hurting the Word Radio #2.”

From New York Times