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
Or rather, their effect is rather blunted: The literalism of the screen doesn’t serve Taffeta’s vision, let alone Mason’s, quite as well as the stage likely did.
—
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 23 June 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
For decades the insistence on the truth value of rap lyrics was of paramount importance; now, that has run headlong into the literalism of law enforcement interpretation.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 23 June 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
For decades the insistence on the truth value of rap lyrics was of paramount importance; now, that has run headlong into the literalism of law enforcement interpretation.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literalism
Noun
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OpenAI said the new release represents a major leap in physical realism, audio-video synchronization, and multi-shot storytelling.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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Who did it, how, and why, are the questions that both the protagonist and the readers try to solve simultaneously, normally without any expectations of realism.—
Anders de la Motte,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.—
Paul A. Thompson,
Pitchfork,
24 Sep. 2025
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His performance is a triumph of naturalism, as is that of Andrew May, who brings layered emotional textures to the couple’s best friend.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
21 Sep. 2025
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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 2 Oct. 2025.
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