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
Examples of surrealism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Amsterdam Polaroids extended Ghirri’s penchant for quotidian surrealism with some strenuous amalgams.
—
James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
There’s folklore in these stories, and Southern gothic horror, and surrealism, and fantasy, and, at their center, a thread of uneasy, bodily realism.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
With just enough personality to distinguish itself from the endless churn of streaming sludge only claiming to deliver the same caliber of laughs online, Appel’s latest film tones down the surrealism at work in his earlier, far more outrageous Weird Al biopic from 2022.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
These hyperbolic fantasies of socialist surrealism are often exhilarating, but Riley’s wild spectrum of images and ideas doesn’t fit readily into a clear critique.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surrealism
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Quandt, Artforum, 2 June 2026
There’s folklore in these stories, and Southern gothic horror, and surrealism, and fantasy, and, at their center, a thread of uneasy, bodily realism.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
With just enough personality to distinguish itself from the endless churn of streaming sludge only claiming to deliver the same caliber of laughs online, Appel’s latest film tones down the surrealism at work in his earlier, far more outrageous Weird Al biopic from 2022.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 May 2026
These hyperbolic fantasies of socialist surrealism are often exhilarating, but Riley’s wild spectrum of images and ideas doesn’t fit readily into a clear critique.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for surrealism
Cite this Entry
“Surrealism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/surrealism. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
