naturalism

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

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

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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

Like many other wines, it’s been improved by naturalism; the Lambruscos coming out of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region today—from producers like Saetti and Podere il Saliceto—are dry, frothy, and refreshing.

— belle cushing, Bon Appetit, "So, What Exactly Is Natural Wine?," 28 Aug. 2017
Peter Falk leads a stellar cast that includes Peter Boyle, Allen Garfield, Warren Oates, and Gena Rowlands; the ensemble strikes a balance between naturalism and cartoonishness that makes for a fascinating tone.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Crime / Do This / Film This year's edition of Noir City: Chicago expands its focus," 25 Aug. 2017
It was written as a defiant work of naturalism, its drama unfurling gradually and realistically.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "'Mies Julie' An Overpoliticized Adaptation At Yale Summer Cabaret," 18 July 2017
But here, despite a vein of Ayckbourn-esque melancholy and a nod toward state-of-the-nation seriousness, Mr. Betts and the director, Stephen Darcy, keep surging past naturalism toward strident farce, then stumbling into tragedy.

— alexis soloski, New York Times, "Review: ‘Invincible’ Brings Class and Conflict to the Party," 18 June 2017
But the photographic quality of vedute obscures the fact that artists rarely aspired to #nofilter naturalism, instead embellishing their subjects for visual and political impact.

— kimberly chrisman-campbell, The Atlantic, "‘Instagram’ for 18th-Century Tourists," 25 May 2017
The artist, who was born in Baton Rouge, La., and taught art in Chicago from 1965 to 2005, designed a decorative cycle with motifs ranging from modernist geometry to Egyptian hieroglyphs, from painterly naturalism to West African masks.

— lori waxman, chicagotribune.com, "Walls and doors ask compelling questions about public art," 10 May 2017
There's a special kind of naturalism Donahoe is creating here.

— christopher arnott, courant.com, "Yale Rep's 'Mary Jane' A Medical Drama With Tears, Hope," 8 May 2017
The Mystical Landscape from Monet to Kandinsky at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris Through June 25 In the late 19th century, as science and naturalism took over the culture, a group of artists chose to go in the opposite direction.

— sarah maiellano, USA TODAY, "This spring's must-see museum exhibits in Europe," 2 May 2017

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

naturalism Synonyms

Synonyms

literalism, verisimilitude, realism, representationalism, verismo

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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