naturalism

noun nat·u·ral·ism \ ˈna-chə-rə-ˌli-zəm , ˈnach-rə- \

Updated on: 17 Apr 2018

Definition of naturalism

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

See naturalism defined for English-language learners

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 of naturalism from the Web

There’s a naturalism and complexity to his McEnroe that keeps him from being turned into a caricature.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "Borg vs. McEnroe, about the 1980 Wimbledon match, fails to serve up the drama," 12 Apr. 2018
The naturalism of the scene, too, is incredible; the animal seems genuinely hostile before eventually calming down, through whatever feats of movie magic.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "The Rider Is the Best Film of 2018 So Far," 11 Apr. 2018
That the shadowy enemy here is more SPECTRE than SMERSH, in James Bond terms, pulls the plot toward a corniness that clashes with the naturalism of the production.

— robert lloyd, latimes.com, "Spy vs. assassin? It's a pure and perverse matchup in BBC America's 'Killing Eve'," 8 Apr. 2018
Her ability to scale between light comedy and deeper emotional naturalism finds a perfect spotlight in Bujalski's material.

— mark olsen, latimes.com, "Andrew Bujalski's SXSW premiere 'Support the Girls' gives the spotlight to Regina Hall," 14 Mar. 2018
The Wilma now has a three-year-old resident acting company and welcomes shows whose daring aesthetics depart from the factory-setting naturalism of most American stages, especially regional ones.

— elisabeth vincentelli, New York Times, "A Philadelphia Theater Heading, and Sweating, in a New Direction," 3 Jan. 2018
There's nothing wrong with eschewing naturalism, of course, but something is amiss when scene after protracted scene lands with such a dull thud.

— neil young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Land': Film Review | Berlin 2018," 2 Mar. 2018
Chekhov's natural manner, however, isn't the same thing as naturalism.

— charles mcnulty, latimes.com, "A spectacular new 'Uncle Vanya' at San Diego's Old Globe," 21 Feb. 2018
Much of it owes to a strong sense of naturalism, though, from the setting and character details.

— david wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle, "Dark secrets fester in the gripping heart of ‘The Alienist’," 15 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'naturalism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of naturalism

circa 1641

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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naturalism Synonyms

Synonyms

literalism, realism, verisimilitude;

Related Words

photo-realism;

authenticity, grittiness;

NATURALISM Defined for English Language Learners

naturalism

noun

Definition of naturalism for English Language Learners

: a style of art or literature that shows people and things as they actually are

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See words that rhyme with naturalism Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for naturalism Spanish Central: Translation of naturalism Nglish: Translation of naturalism for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about naturalism

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