naturalistic

adjective

nat·​u·​ral·​is·​tic ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-ˈli-stik 

variants or less commonly naturalist

ˈna-ch(ə-)rə-list 

: of, characterized by, or according with naturalism

naturalistically

ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-ˈli-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• realistic
• lifelike
• three-dimensional
• natural
• vivid
• living

Examples of naturalistic in a Sentence

The zoo strives to create naturalistic settings for the animals.

the movie's volcanic eruption is so naturalistic that it's easy to forget that it all came out of a computer

Recent Examples on the Web

But part of it is that there’s a more naturalistic feel to the dialogue and a less heightened feel in Peacemaker than in Superman. —Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Sep. 2025

Lou Lesesne has spent years cultivating a naturalistic garden in his front yard. —Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025

Chuang made the correct story decision for the show to embrace a naturalistic style overall, building frames that continually envelop the characters within the landscape or set them starkly against it. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Sep. 2025

The production’s director, Eric Ting, who stood nearby with various assistants, suggested that Costanzo’s look be naturalistic, whereas the play’s other characters be exaggerated. —Henry Alford, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for naturalistic

• anachronistic
• animalistic
• antagonistic
• antiphlogistic
• behavioristic
• cannibalistic
• capitalistic
• characteristic
• collectivistic
• deterministic
• ethnolinguistic
• expressionistic