as in realism
realistic depiction in art and literature
a major exponent of naturalism, Theodore Dreiser depicted life's harsh realities unflinchingly and without moral judgment
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Recent Examples of naturalism
In this delightful piece of armchair naturalism, Henion’s goal is to change our vilification of darkness, to see it instead as a restorative balm, and to stoke curiosity about nocturnal landscapes and creatures.
—
The Know,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Spontaneity and naturalism characterize much of the album, even on songs by artists not necessarily known for those qualities.
—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
La Tour was born in Lorraine, a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1593, twenty-one years after Caravaggio, whose sensational combination of naturalism and theater, light and dark, formed him as a painter.
—
Nicole Krauss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
But the film’s empathy is matter of fact, achieved in part through an almost documentarian naturalism.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for naturalism
The Know,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
Spontaneity and naturalism characterize much of the album, even on songs by artists not necessarily known for those qualities.
—
Hannah Jocelyn,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
La Tour was born in Lorraine, a duchy of the Holy Roman Empire, in 1593, twenty-one years after Caravaggio, whose sensational combination of naturalism and theater, light and dark, formed him as a painter.
—
Nicole Krauss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
But the film’s empathy is matter of fact, achieved in part through an almost documentarian naturalism.
—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for naturalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naturalism
realism
Noun
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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.
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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.
Cite this Entry
“Naturalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naturalism. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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