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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Recent Examples of realism
Something is not sort of satisfied by the hard parameters of literary-fiction realism, even though that was the tradition I was raised in.
—
Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
For the occasion, the venue will feature state-of-the-art projection technology for visual realism taking the world of Pandora to a whole new immersive level.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite concerns about the realism of deliverability - 44 percent of those polled by NBC still considered Mamdani's plans realistic, compared to 58 percent for Cuomo - the main issue for voters polled was affordability, at 55 percent.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
In recent years, Bleed had continued recording and performing, maintaining a loyal fan base drawn to his signature mix of southern wisdom and lyrical realism.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for realism
Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
For the occasion, the venue will feature state-of-the-art projection technology for visual realism taking the world of Pandora to a whole new immersive level.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Despite concerns about the realism of deliverability - 44 percent of those polled by NBC still considered Mamdani's plans realistic, compared to 58 percent for Cuomo - the main issue for voters polled was affordability, at 55 percent.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
In recent years, Bleed had continued recording and performing, maintaining a loyal fan base drawn to his signature mix of southern wisdom and lyrical realism.
—Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for realism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for realism
Noun
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If Mercedes’ Marisol were less melodramatic and more in tune with the naturalism of her castmates, this could be a truly masterful staging.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
10 Oct. 2025
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But the film’s empathy is matter of fact, achieved in part through an almost documentarian naturalism.—
Carrie Battan,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The earliest examples of fake blood, from red cloth to glycerol goo Some folks believe that the pre-modern cultures simply used actual blood in plays and tableaus, for maximum verisimilitude.—
Mark Hay,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
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The Cenobites, clearly inspired by leather and BDSM culture, are reimagined here as terrifyingly fashionable beings who feel truly alien — an aesthetic praised for its verisimilitude to Clive Barker’s original vision.—
Samantha Allen,
Them.,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realism. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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