re·al·ist
ˈrē-ə-list 
plural realists
1
: a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation : one who accepts and deals with things as they really are
a political realist
She considers herself a realist when it comes to parenting.
2
: a person (such as a writer or painter) who adheres to a style of realism by representing things in a way faithful to nature or to real life
Chekhov was essentially more of a realist than Dostoevski, whose force often lay in a strong proclivity to melodrama …—
Roger Shattuck
Roger Shattuck
: in the style of realism : faithful in representation to nature or to real life
realist paintings
Though a number of Dahl's most engaging stories, particularly in his early career, are cast in a realist mode, his reputation is that of a writer of macabre, blackly jocose tales …—Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol OatesExamples of realist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebShannon Carlin, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
In keeping with his usual style, the Charlotte Hornets coach remains a realist.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Born in Colombia in 1927, García Márquez (who was sometimes called Gabo) was a Nobel Prize winner and pioneering magical realist best known for his novels One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Clearly the show is not meant for cranky old realists.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Yet his work is closer in intent to that of his realist peers than appearances would suggest.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024
For the past decade, Kacey Musgraves has been country music’s most daring traditionalist — a small-town realist who’s also a campy country-disco queen and a folkie who once wrote a song about smoking weed with John Prine.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
Other Chinese thinkers who are often considered realists also wrestle with classical ideas; in his 2011 book Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power, for instance, the international relations scholar Yan Xuetong draws on premodern Chinese thinking to interpret the contemporary global order.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Helen is the realist, Grace the artsy friend who loves glitter and is a fabulous baker.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024
Suisheng Zhao, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
More traditional are Freya Grand’s pair of realist nature scenes, which focus tightly on small areas of sea or earth.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Though there are supernatural touches — notably in the peculiar behavior of the local fauna — this long first section is primarily driven by the intrigues of realist fiction: romance, sickness, family mystery.
—Charles Arrowsmith, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
She was given a role—but turned it down upon actually reading Hansberry’s realist drama, cowed by the challenge.
—Hazlitt, 9 Aug. 2023
Carr’s focus on military power, economic power, and the state’s ability to shape public opinion reinforced the realist character of the book.
—Quincy Wright, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
As a result, public and even elite views have begun to swing in a more pragmatic and realist direction over the last decade.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
There are undoubtedly realist approaches to the world that espouse power-seeking and U.S. military primacy.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
For a long time, public sentiment seemed to be inching toward the latter, more realist view.
—Zachary Siegel, The New Republic, 27 June 2023
Noun
The Back to Black track is a soulful anthem for all of the realists out there who know the truth: love is pain.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 19 Apr. 2024
In keeping with his usual style, the Charlotte Hornets coach remains a realist.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 28 Mar. 2024
Born in Colombia in 1927, García Márquez (who was sometimes called Gabo) was a Nobel Prize winner and pioneering magical realist best known for his novels One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967) and Love in the Time of Cholera (1985).
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024
Clearly the show is not meant for cranky old realists.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2024
Yet his work is closer in intent to that of his realist peers than appearances would suggest.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024
For the past decade, Kacey Musgraves has been country music’s most daring traditionalist — a small-town realist who’s also a campy country-disco queen and a folkie who once wrote a song about smoking weed with John Prine.
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2024
Other Chinese thinkers who are often considered realists also wrestle with classical ideas; in his 2011 book Ancient Chinese Thought, Modern Chinese Power, for instance, the international relations scholar Yan Xuetong draws on premodern Chinese thinking to interpret the contemporary global order.
—Rana Mitter, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Helen is the realist, Grace the artsy friend who loves glitter and is a fabulous baker.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Today, realist theorists understand U.S.-Chinese tensions as the natural result of a rising China that is working to expand its influence against the resistance of the incumbent power.
—Suisheng Zhao, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
More traditional are Freya Grand’s pair of realist nature scenes, which focus tightly on small areas of sea or earth.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
Though there are supernatural touches — notably in the peculiar behavior of the local fauna — this long first section is primarily driven by the intrigues of realist fiction: romance, sickness, family mystery.
—Charles Arrowsmith, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2023
She was given a role—but turned it down upon actually reading Hansberry’s realist drama, cowed by the challenge.
—Hazlitt, 9 Aug. 2023
Carr’s focus on military power, economic power, and the state’s ability to shape public opinion reinforced the realist character of the book.
—Quincy Wright, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
As a result, public and even elite views have begun to swing in a more pragmatic and realist direction over the last decade.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
There are undoubtedly realist approaches to the world that espouse power-seeking and U.S. military primacy.
—Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022
For a long time, public sentiment seemed to be inching toward the latter, more realist view.
—Zachary Siegel, The New Republic, 27 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'realist.' 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 realist
Cite this Entry
“Realist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realist. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share