realistic

adjective

re·​al·​is·​tic ˌrē-ə-ˈli-stik 

1

: of, relating to, or marked by literary or artistic realism : accurately representing what is natural or real

a realistic novel

realistic portraiture

realistic sound effects

Such films tend to be more expressionistic than realistic.

—Ira Konigsberg

: convincingly rendered to appear natural

Realistic, sensitive artificial skin would be an important step towards making the prosthetic feel like an extension of the body.

—Julian Smith

2

: able to see things as they really are and to deal with them in a practical way

a sensible, realistic person/attitude

trying to be realistic about their chances for success

3

: based on what is real rather than on what is wanted or hoped for : not impractical or visionary

a realistic plan

realistic expectations

setting realistic goals

It's not realistic to expect people to spend that much money on wedding gifts.

For the first time, people with cancers that have long outwitted science have a realistic chance of getting a miracle, too.

—Sharon Begley

realistically

ˌrē-ə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

depicting a scene realistically

approaching a problem realistically

Synonyms

• down-to-earth
• earthy
• hardheaded
• matter-of-fact
• practical
• pragmatic
• pragmatical

Examples of realistic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Thaddeus’ family, like any long-standing American family, give us portrait of a nation without the fife and drum—instead realistic, confusing, confused, heedless, halting, and quietly wild. —John Kaag, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024

The National Marine Fisheries Service questioned whether the $740 million in state and federal funding needed to implement the voluntary agreements was realistic, since none of it had been appropriated. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

Williams believes that the sketches of Trump's court appearances will capture a more realistic view of Trump than cameras could ever offer. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2024

The result is musically bland, but scarily realistic and also pretty funny, though heaven knows whose source material is being used. —David Meyer, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024

In the comment section, fans applauded Sewell's believable and realistic transformation. —Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024

Perhaps most important, if least politically realistic, both before and after October 7, Israel could have supported a Palestinian alternative to Hamas as a government of Gaza, working with Arab states to ensure its legitimacy and international partners to fund it. —Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 5 Apr. 2024

The way their lives play out together seems perfectly realistic, given the circumstances. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024

The pressure put on us to bounce back when everything is new and different isn't realistic. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing realistic

• photo-realistic

Kids Definition

realistic

adjective

re·​al·​is·​tic

ˌrē-ə-ˈlis-tik,

ˌri-ə-

1

: true to life or nature

a realistic painting

2

: ready to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly

a realistic approach

realistically

-ti-k(ə-)lē

adverb