Definition of realpolitik
:politics based on practical and material factors rather than on theoretical or ethical objectives
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Recent Examples of realpolitik from the Web
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Sansa freed herself from a bunch of male abusers, got schooled in realpolitik and became an able and sure-handed leader, disabused of the naïve courtly fantasies that used to seduce her.
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Merkel’s response at an expansive panel discussion revealed a restrained dose of realpolitik.
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Brohm more accurately captures the realpolitik of the situation.
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Tyrion Lannister, perhaps the fan favorite, is a master of realpolitik who’s made more than his share of compromises to survive.
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Many in both Riyadh and Jerusalem seemed inclined to view Trump as stronger that Obama, and to welcome a realpolitik devoid of pesky humanitarian concerns.
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Bad guy in the White House: Columnist and former ABC News correspondent Greg Dobbs commented on the concept of realpolitik and President Trump inviting Filipino strongman Rodrigo Duterte to the White House.
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Father and son represented one family, but the elder Assad was more attuned to the real world and realpolitik, according to U.S. envoys who knew him.
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That statecraft, however, was more than just a realpolitik power play.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'realpolitik.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of realpolitik
German, from real actual + Polishitik politics
REALPOLITIK Defined for English Language Learners
realpolitik
play
noun
Definition of realpolitik for English Language Learners
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: a system of politics based on a country's situation and its needs rather than on ideas about what is morally right and wrong
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