surrealism

noun

sur·​re·​al·​ism sə-ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 

also -ˈrā-

: 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

surrealist

sə-ˈrē-ə-list 

also -ˈrā-

noun or adjective

Examples of surrealism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As the obstacles mount against Kornev, his paranoia grows, leading to fleeting moments of surrealism. —Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

The southern gothic The Heart, She Holler takes the convoluted elements of a soap opera — torrid affairs, small-town corruption, arbitrary plot twists — and boils them down alongside a heavy dose of gross-out surrealism to fit into 11-minute installments. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

Talk about high-drama surrealism. —Meg Walters, InStyle, 7 Mar. 2026

Marie-José employs elements of Afrofuturism and combines it with surrealism to reimagine the past and inspire new futures. —Charlie Vargas, Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French surréalisme, from sur- + réalisme realism

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for surrealism

• idealism
• neorealism