Thesaurus results for REALISM

realism

noun

ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm

Definition of realism

as in naturalism

realistic depiction in art and literature using ordinary people as models, even when depicting the greatest of saints, Caravaggio brought an unforgiving realism to painting that was unprecedented

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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.

Recent Examples of realism There are very real representational problems with regard to realism, phones, and internet life’s microwave instructions for rendering the literal ironic and the ironic literal. — M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 The film’s observational intensity yields a form of symbolic realism that highlights both the action and its import—both the drama and the ideas and systems that undergird it. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 The 15th century artist is credited with revolutionizing Renaissance portraiture by popularizing elements of Flemish realism and oil-painting techniques in Italy. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 And as a non-New Yorker, but as someone who, for instance, lives in London and has spent a lot of time there, bringing all of that detail, cultural realism, and history to a place in London, in England, is really difficult. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for realism

Recent Examples of Synonyms for realism

Noun

Possessing a previously unimaginable degree of naturalism, Raphael’s Madonnas appear to think and feel.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026
The style of it was realism, deeply grounded in naturalism, a lot more restraint.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 28 July 2026

Definition of naturalism

Noun

American coming-of-age comedies rarely beat with such uncomfortable verisimilitude.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
For as dutifully naturalistic as the setups are, the film occasionally takes on the feel of a stage play, where its latticework of accents, syntaxes, and acting styles are allowed to accentuate something other than strict verisimilitude.

— Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026

Definition of verisimilitude

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“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realism. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of realism

noun

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