surrealism

noun sur·re·al·ism \ sə-ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm also -ˈrā- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Definition of surrealism

: the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations

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surrealist

play \sə-ˈrē-ə-listalso, -ˈrā-\ noun or adjective

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Recent Examples of surrealism from the Web

This is the kind of movie that draws comparisons to the everyday surrealism and psychological dread of Roman Polanski and David Lynch, while forging its own weird aesthetic path.

— ann hornaday, kansascity, "In terrifying ‘Hereditary,’ past horrors haunt a dysfunctional family," 7 June 2018
Glaser's works include a poster for the Ambler Music Festival, an advertisement for the Valentine typewriter sold by Olivetti, and a poster for an exhibition on dadaism and surrealism.

— washington post staff, Washington Post, "Behind the scenes with influential graphic artists from 50 years ago," 30 May 2018
So the next episode’s groggy surrealism — involving a college-party gig — felt like a continuation of the previous week’s.

— wesley morris, New York Times, "‘Atlanta’ Skips a Grade," 11 May 2018
My influences come from a stew of sources: Freud, Jungian archetypes, magic realism, surrealism, Paula Rego, Shirin Neshat, Kiki Smith, Marisol Escobar, Thomas Hirschhorn, Joseph Beuys, and many others.

— andrea alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "This L.A.-Based Artist Wants You to Consider Your Immigrant Status," 4 Apr. 2018
Classic details are morphed into contemporary surrealism thanks to the vision of one Philippe Starck—like the giant teardrop ornament dripping out of otherwise normal lampshades in front of every grecian column in the room.

— natalie b. compton, GQ, "The Best Way to Do Paris Is the Old Fashioned Way," 3 Apr. 2018
My artwork is influenced by surrealism, abstract expressionism and graffiti.

— milwaukee, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Exuberant art of self-proclaimed emissary of light and love, opening in West Allis," 25 Apr. 2018
Then, in the 1920s, André Breton, the inventor of surrealism, rediscovers it and calls it the key work in the history of the modern movement.

— National Geographic, "Where Did Picasso’s Genius Come From?," 14 Apr. 2018
The result was that the upright staircase leant the upside-down room a cheeky touch of MC Escher’s surrealism.

— michael ward, Curbed, "‘Trading Spaces’ and finding an unlikely queer icon in Hildi Santo-Tomas," 5 Apr. 2018

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