naturalism
noun
nat·u·ral·ism
ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: action, inclination, or thought based only on natural desires and instincts
2
: a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance
specifically
: the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena
3
: realism in art or literature
specifically
: a theory or practice in literature emphasizing scientific observation of life without idealization and often including elements of determinism
Synonyms
Examples of naturalism in a Sentence
a major exponent of naturalism, Theodore Dreiser depicted life's harsh realities unflinchingly and without moral judgment
Recent Examples on the Web
The director Ari Katcher achieves a careful balance between naturalism and narrative coherence, and eschews the genre’s glossy direct-to-camera confessionals altogether; Carmichael’s inner thoughts are conveyed instead through snippets of borderline-diaristic standup.
—
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
In these landscapes, naturalism and abstraction often battle to a pulsating draw by means of a magnified, or coarsened pointillism that recalls Seurat in its mosaic-like array of dots, dashes and commas.
—Roberta Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024
With this view behind the curtain, the consultation scenes begin to take on a greater naturalism.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2024
Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty turn in stellar supporting work, further enhancing the film’s sense of gritty naturalism.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Peterson’s success stems from a commitment to naturalism.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2024
That notably includes the unfussy, crystalline naturalism of longtime cinematographer Eric Gautier’s images, the fluid editing, the intermittent bursts of vintage rock.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024
With the leads played by two actors who are father and son in real life, the movie offers an unexpected level of naturalism — at least for a film involving reindeer ghosts.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2023
Circle Rep at the time was often associated with the lyric naturalism of playwrights like Mr. Wilson and John Bishop, which centered on the daily struggles of the marginalized and underrepresented.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024
Inkoo Kang, The New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2024
In these landscapes, naturalism and abstraction often battle to a pulsating draw by means of a magnified, or coarsened pointillism that recalls Seurat in its mosaic-like array of dots, dashes and commas.
—Roberta Smith, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024
With this view behind the curtain, the consultation scenes begin to take on a greater naturalism.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2024
Joe Pesci and Cathy Moriarty turn in stellar supporting work, further enhancing the film’s sense of gritty naturalism.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 9 Mar. 2024
Peterson’s success stems from a commitment to naturalism.
—Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2024
That notably includes the unfussy, crystalline naturalism of longtime cinematographer Eric Gautier’s images, the fluid editing, the intermittent bursts of vintage rock.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Feb. 2024
With the leads played by two actors who are father and son in real life, the movie offers an unexpected level of naturalism — at least for a film involving reindeer ghosts.
—Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2023
Circle Rep at the time was often associated with the lyric naturalism of playwrights like Mr. Wilson and John Bishop, which centered on the daily struggles of the marginalized and underrepresented.
—Alex Williams, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'naturalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near naturalism
Cite this Entry
“Naturalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naturalism. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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