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
Its musings on the spiritual — or even on the innocent, the naïve, the youthful — begin and end in the realm of documentarian literalism.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 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
The spectacle here is one based on literalism: nothing need be imagined ever again.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the first one post-Barbie, which has ushered in a new wave of literalism on the red carpet.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 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
The spectacle here is one based on literalism: nothing need be imagined ever again.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the first one post-Barbie, which has ushered in a new wave of literalism on the red carpet.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literalism
Noun
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Because what matters, what makes Caravaggio so much more than an illustrator, is less the realism of the sacred image than its translation — through the bodies and faces of ordinary people — from the time of the Gospels to now.—
Jason Farago,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
As the Scientific Revolution spread across Europe, artists became increasingly devoted to realism in still life paintings of plants and flowers.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
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One thing that struck me about the film was the richness and naturalism to the cinematography and locations.—
Patrick Brzeski,
The Hollywood Reporter,
25 Mar. 2025
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Those moments of naturalism work better than many of the shots taking place outside of the car, which often use glaringly heavy-handed lighting to insinuate who we’re supposed to see as good and evil.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 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 1 May. 2025.
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