Synonyms of realism

realism

noun

ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 

as in naturalism

realistic depiction in art and literature

using ordinary people as models, even when depicting the greatest of saints, Caravaggio brought an unforgiving realism to painting that was unprecedented

Synonyms & Similar Words

• naturalism
• verisimilitude
• literalism
• authenticity
• representationalism
• verismo
• photo-realism
• grittiness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of realism

Gordon’s novel, in addition to its realism about what people can and can’t get from one another, offers a biting satire of the parasocial-friendship ecosystem of podcasts and social media. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 13 July 2026

Iranian author Shahrnush Parsipur, who cloaked uncompromising feminist ideals in stories and novels that glowed with magical realism, died on July 3 in San Francisco following a stroke. — News Desk, Artforum, 13 July 2026

The goal isn’t realism; the goal is to sharpen skills and build instincts before any of those situations occur in real life. — Demetri Giannikopoulos, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

Much of that realism comes down to the clutch pedal having real heft, deliberately mimicking the 33 lb (15 kg) of resistance found on the 599, the last true manual Ferrari ever made. — New Atlas, 10 July 2026