realism

noun

ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce realism (audio)
Definition of realismnext
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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Example Sentences

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 And the show’s jittery surrealism feels more evocative of contemporary paranoia than the flawed realism of so many recent thrillers (ahem, Zero Day, ahem). — Judy Berman, TIME, 27 Feb. 2025 The result was fresh and grounded in realism, rather than too outré. — Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 26 Feb. 2025 This is not a class of TV known for its devotion to realism or logic. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025 Each of these films belongs to its own genre—action/adventure, sci-fi/drama, and drama/history, respectively—and none of them seems interested in the filmic tradition of documentary realism, not even the bio-pic. — Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for realism

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“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realism. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on realism

Nglish: Translation of realism for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about realism

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