literalism

noun

lit·​er·​al·​ism ˈli-t(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce literalism (audio)
1
: adherence to the explicit substance of an idea or expression
biblical literalism
2
: fidelity to observable fact : realism
literalist noun
literalistic adjective

Examples of literalism in a Sentence

if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
This is the first one post-Barbie, which has ushered in a new wave of literalism on the red carpet. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 May 2024 Together, the films also prove that literalism isn’t always required in stories that impart messy truths about humanity. Esther Zuckerman, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2024 The Biblical literalism question points to the answer: non-fundamentalist Christians have shifted toward evolution over the years. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2012 The silhouette, the outline, and the shadow were, as the anthology’s editors indicate, crucial tools in this arsenal of suggestion—visual forms quite outside the usual repertoire of Pop art, which depended on an arch literalism for its effects. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for literalism 

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of literalism was in 1644

Dictionary Entries Near literalism

Cite this Entry

“Literalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literalism. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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