Whitmanesque

1 9.9

Like long, free lines of poetry that celebrate nature and the self

adjective
/ˌwɪt.mənˈɛsk/

Literature

: whitmaniano

Her writing style is often described as Whitmanesque, filled with free verse and vivid imagery.

Examples

The poet's new collection has a Whitmanesque quality, celebrating nature and individuality.
Rorty's Whitmanesque American religion depends on the hope that there is "no need" for Americans even to be "curious about God" (17).

Academic text (1998)
Many contemporary poets aim to capture a Whitmanesque spirit in their works, emphasizing connection and celebration of life.

Synonyms

poetic

vsWhitmanesque

Literature

97 4.5

Having the beauty and strong feeling of poems

is used when such qualities specifically resemble Walt Whitman's style

poetical

vsWhitmanesque

Literature

7 6.5

Showing beauty, imagination, and strong feeling

is used when those poetic qualities match Walt Whitman's themes and style

Antonyms

unpoetic

1 6.1

Not beautiful or creative in a way that moves people

How Whitman-like

Whitmanesque

Literature

1 9.9

conventional

287 2.8

Surface Forms

Whitmanesque positive

Morphology

Whitmanesque = Whitman (semi-transparent) = Whitman + esque

Formally built from the proper name 'Whitman' plus the adjectival suffix '-esque' meaning 'in the style of', but the meaning requires cultural knowledge of Whitman.

Etymology

Whitmanesque comes from the name of the poet Whitman plus the ending -esque, which means 'in the style of', as in picturesque. Whitman wrote long, free lines that praise nature, the individual and democracy, so Whitmanesque means 'like Whitman's poetry' or 'in his style'.