as in realism
realistic depiction in art and literature
if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of literalism
This literalism extends across the entire picture.
—
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
By the 1920s, the rise of religious fundamentalism and Biblical literalism among evangelical Protestant groups was reshaping America's religious landscape — setting it on a collision course with modern scientific thought.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
But, in its literalism, the essay struggles to transcend the form.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
This isn’t the kind of puzzle thriller in which all the elements click into place with a thudding literalism that compliments an attentive eye.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025
By the 1920s, the rise of religious fundamentalism and Biblical literalism among evangelical Protestant groups was reshaping America's religious landscape — setting it on a collision course with modern scientific thought.
—Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 8 July 2025
But, in its literalism, the essay struggles to transcend the form.
—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
This isn’t the kind of puzzle thriller in which all the elements click into place with a thudding literalism that compliments an attentive eye.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literalism
Noun
-
The group’s notebooks read like fragments of fairy tales or magical realism—years of stories within stories within stories, like Russian nesting dolls.—
Shannon Taggart,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Finding humor and humanity in space adventure Not every astronaut’s favorite film is grounded in realism.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By filtering the grammar of naturalism through a fine mesh strainer until all that remains are skeletal forms and eerie compositional croppings, Schjerfbeck forces your eye toward an occluded or trivial detail.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
It’s based on the fallacy of naturalism.—
Christine Baranski,
Vogue,
5 Dec. 2025
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literalism. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
