realistic

adjective

ˌrē-ə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce realistic (audio)
Definition of realisticnext
1
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly high schoolers who need to be more realistic in their career choices, as so few people end up as rock stars

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in living
closely resembling the object imitated those special effects look really realistic—I'd never guess they were all computer-generated

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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 realistic They’re actually counted as such because they’re considered to have a realistic chance of recovery. — Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026 Flipping the House, controlled by an even narrower GOP margin, is considered a more realistic outcome. — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026 After dressing up as an anthropomorphic worm, an incredibly realistic ET, and a chimpanzee complete with prosthetic facial features and ears, the supermodel is ready to amaze us once again. — Alfredo Toriello, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026 These realistic simulators feature 360-degree rotation and can seat up to two people. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for realistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for realistic
  1. pragmatic
  2. living
  3. practical
  4. naturalistic
  5. lifelike
  6. natural
  7. vivid
  8. three-dimensional
Adjective
  • But Deann Mitchell, chair for the Johnson County Democratic Party, said years of strategizing campaigns and recruiting pragmatic leaders to represent the party led to the historic election night.
    — Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026
  • And there’s Marian, ever in search of an appropriate husband yet perpetually turning people down for reasons that make zero pragmatic or even emotional sense.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of pragmatic
Adjective
  • The Luxury Pillow keeps your head and neck in the ideal position to stay asleep all night, made with soft bamboo viscose material that naturally repels common household non-living allergens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • To overcome these limitations, the UMass Amherst researchers adopted a different approach, inspired by how living organisms distribute energy production throughout their tissues.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of living
Adjective
  • Maxwell also highlighted that the aircraft is being designed around the practical requirements of cargo and logistics operators.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • In the 1940s haute couture status brought practical advantages, but as postwar shortages eased in the early 1950s, those benefits diminished.
    — Alicja Zelazko, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of practical
Adjective
  • The concrete and glass residence is tucked into a naturalistic landscape.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The effect is highly corporeal, a naturalistic confrontation with the immediacy of death.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of naturalistic
Adjective
  • Retailers and brands like Lowe's, The Home Depot, and Balsam Hill offer everything from traditional, lifelike evergreens and pre-lit trees to colorful statement pieces, slim designs and tabletop options perfect for apartments or smaller rooms.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Treble is pronounced and somewhat sharp, but it’s also held back by the compression of AAC, which keeps the cymbals and various pads from sounding lifelike and pristine.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of lifelike
Adjective
  • The Hazel Ruffled Coverlet in natural is also tempting at 40% off, bringing its price down to $180 from $300.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
  • The fruit is cooked using industrial steam evaporators, which cook off excess water, concentrating the natural flavors and the color.
    — Carolynn Carreño, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • These songs are full of vivid details, odd turns of phrase, and crazy schemes.
    — Stephen M. Deusner, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Yet new research provides compelling evidence that fringed jumping spiders (Portia fimbriata) experience two distinct sleep states, including one that looks suspiciously like the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep associated with our own vivid dreams.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • The researchers evaluated VFlash across several two-dimensional and three-dimensional robot trajectory prediction tasks.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The product of over 800 hours of design and development, the hand-wound mechanical caliber shows only hours and minutes, but still makes a statement with striking three-dimensional architecture.
    — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of three-dimensional

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Cite this Entry

“Realistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realistic. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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