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
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Recent Examples of literalism
In fact, the allegory travels more easily once it is freed from literalism.
—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
But if Judd’s literalism and Caro’s illusionism represent the extreme and irreconcilable ends of the artistic spectrum during the ’60s and ’70s, Bove’s work integrates and combines these apparent artistic antipodes with a contemporary twist.
—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
The larger point here is that the new justice and the governor are strong advocates of literalism and originalism — legal doctrines holding that constitutions and laws should be read precisely as the authors wrote and understood them.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Eschewing dull literalism, the bold illustrations lend imaginative flair to the warm, lived-in look of Pye’s production design.
—
David Benedict,
Variety,
30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
But if Judd’s literalism and Caro’s illusionism represent the extreme and irreconcilable ends of the artistic spectrum during the ’60s and ’70s, Bove’s work integrates and combines these apparent artistic antipodes with a contemporary twist.
—
Gordon Hughes,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
The larger point here is that the new justice and the governor are strong advocates of literalism and originalism — legal doctrines holding that constitutions and laws should be read precisely as the authors wrote and understood them.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
22 Jan. 2026
Eschewing dull literalism, the bold illustrations lend imaginative flair to the warm, lived-in look of Pye’s production design.
—
David Benedict,
Variety,
30 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literalism
Noun
-
Taking inspiration regarding size – but not tone – from the large-scale epic works of the battle from the 19th century, Eric von Schmidt in 1976 painted the Seventh Cavalry’s defeat with brutal realism.
-
Somehow, in just six years, Philly street rap has gone from the frenzied realism of $loan and Skiano to the minimalist choir-drill of Ot7Quanny and Skrilla to the muffled transmissions from the void of Tovi and HappyDranker.
Noun
-
Tarr mixes professional and amateur performers, yet demands the same unrehearsed naturalism from each.
-
Da Costa realizes that journey with unforced naturalism, as if the camera just happened to be there to capture it.
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 4 Jul. 2026.
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