naturalistic

adjective

ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce naturalistic (audio)
variants also naturalist
Definition of naturalisticnext
as in realistic
closely resembling the object imitated the movie's volcanic eruption is so naturalistic that it's easy to forget that it all came out of a computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 naturalistic Cinematographer David Bauer’s nimble-footed lensing and use of natural light does indeed hark back considerably to the look of those Dogme 95 movies back in the day, as does the naturalistic editing style deployed by Louis Emil Ramm Seeberg. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2026 From our patio, a path takes you through naturalistic plantings under an arch that would act as a threshold to a vine maple against the far fence. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 June 2026 The female gaze Few women photographed Monroe, and there’s a stark contrast between Arnold’s naturalistic, candid style and the more flirtatious interplay of her male counterparts. — Sheena McKenzie, CNN Money, 3 June 2026 Its naturalistic appearance pairs well with grasses, sedums, and spring bulbs. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for naturalistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naturalistic
  1. realistic
  2. living
  3. natural
  4. lifelike
  5. three-dimensional
Adjective
  • That is part of Taiwan’s ongoing effort to make its exercises more realistic, following past criticism that some drills were too highly staged.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026
  • With a realistic chance of winning the World Series, the Rays were willing to go all-in.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • While plastic borders have gained popularity over the years for their practicality, many gardeners are now gravitating towards living borders consisting of plants, which offer a more natural look and can provide additional benefits, such as habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 June 2026
  • What challenges is the co-living industry facing?
    — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2026
Definition of living
Adjective
  • The famed highway—which turns 100 this year—passes through bustling cities, natural landmarks, and quirky roadside attractions, so there’s plenty of things to see (and do) along the way.
    — Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Historically, enduring businesses like Wedgwood, P&G, and Ford consistently built success by prioritizing customer value, trust, and market expansion, recognizing profits as a natural outcome.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • The game, while technically still in early access, enjoys a thriving community of modders and just received its biggest update ever, which integrates Gran Turismo’s open-source tone-mapping system for more lifelike colors and lighting.
    — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This bright, budget-friendly big-screen Vizio TV gives you 4K resolution and an almost lifelike picture, thanks to its Quantum Dot QLED technology.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of lifelike
Adjective
  • The system then calculates the exact three-dimensional coordinates where the photon hit the crystal.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In another, shapes leap out of the frame of a massive three-dimensional painting in response to biometric data captured from wearable wristbands.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 31 July 2026
Definition of three-dimensional

Browse Nearby Words

naturalism
naturalistic
naturalize
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naturalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naturalistic. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on naturalistic

Nglish: Translation of naturalistic for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All