surrealism

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

|Updated on: 25 Jul 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

See surrealism defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of surrealism from the Web

That movie, the director’s fourth, established him as an auteur of woman-in-trouble surrealism.

— The Economist, "David Lynch’s memoir illuminates the origins of his art," 14 June 2018
Dreams often prove elusive, but Mehldau’s possessed a clarity to accompany its surrealism: Hoffman stood in a room with Mehldau, and the actor read the American Constitution.

— andrew dansby, Houston Chronicle, "Dream analysis with pianist Brad Mehldau," 12 Apr. 2018
The artist, who already has installed works in the downtowns of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, and Lake Worth, seeks to blend surrealism and photo realism.

— anne geggis, Sun-Sentinel.com, "More public art projects to add pizzazz in Pompano Beach," 5 July 2018
This transfer was clouded in surrealism for everybody associated with the south London club.

— SI.com, "Yohan Cabaye's Time at Crystal Palace Was Underappreciated, But His Arrival Was a Landmark Moment," 5 July 2018
Through absurdity, surrealism, and the specificity of Oakland, many people will find a familiar home in this film.

— boots riley, HWD, "Sorry to Bother You Director Boots Riley Takes a Ride Through Oakland’s Changing Landscape," 2 July 2018
At times, the four men briefly appear alongside the actors who portray them (respectively, Barry Keoghan, Evan Peters, Jared Abrahamson and Blake Jenner), lending the film an additional patina of surrealism.

— michael o’sullivan, kansascity, "‘American Animals’: True crime that’s entertaining and profound," 21 June 2018
With its episodic structure, Carroll's story is the perfect vehicle for Svankmajer's dark, 30s-style surrealism.

— patrick friel, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign / On Video Five masters of stop-motion animation," 12 June 2018
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

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.