Other forms: impressionistically
Something impressionistic is based on general ideas or reactions, rather than being rational and completely accurate. Your impressionistic opinions about a political candidate may have more to do with her personality and where she grew up than her official platform.
Impressionistic things originate from a person's impressions — their personal feelings, opinions, or instincts. You can also use this adjective to describe the style of art, music, or writing called impressionism. In painting, this movement was characterized by a style that captured the feeling of a moment rather than being literally realistic. The painter Monet was the first to be called impressionistic, in 1874.