expressionist

American

[ik-spre-shuhn-ist] / ɪkˈsprɛ ʃən ɪst /

adjective

of or relating to artistic or literary Expressionism.

noun

a person whose artistic work follows the principles of Expressionism.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Not everything is abstract, nor is everything expressionist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 28, 2026

The production is naturalistic, with bits of expressionist neo-noir worked in when a crime is being described.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026

They resemble three-dimensional versions of abstract expressionist paintings, Mr Farquharson said.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2025

"This transition phase is defined in particular by the tension between the meticulously detailed and naturalist figure" of the prince and the "vibrant, almost expressionist rendering of the background", he added.

From Barron's • Nov. 13, 2025

For some reason I think about Jacoba Van Heemskerck, a Dutch expressionist painter I’ve become interested in lately.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023