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 The scratchy, sketchy linework goes for an impression of people and places rather than strictly realistic representation; the backgrounds mostly stripped away. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 11 Aug. 2026 For a more realistic estimate of speed, consider the Perseverance rover, which launched on July 30, 2020, and landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026 That is also the most realistic way to understand what the Player Performance Center can—and cannot—do. — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Whether or not Hathaway’s character is realistic, this movie seems right on track to do that. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 11 Aug. 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
  • If Sagittarius was rising at your time of birth, your money sector is ruled by taskmaster Saturn, and the pragmatic sign of Capricorn.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Solomon himself offered a pragmatic take on the market's trajectory.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pragmatic
Adjective
  • At the time, Rice was an account executive for PadSplit, an online co-living rental marketplace, where users can rent rooms in shared living spaces.
    — Diamy Wang August 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026
  • In other words, the priority among agent-detecting organisms of many kinds seems to be to separate those forces of change that are alive from those that are non-living.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of living
Adjective
  • Women considering enlistment are generally more likely to ask practical questions about pregnancy policies, hygiene and whether barracks were coed, recruiters and women currently serving explained.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Testing includes blood work, genetic screening, ultrasounds, a DEXA body-composition scan, cardiovascular assessments, and numerous other diagnostics, with every result explained immediately and paired with practical recommendations.
    — Ken Gawrych, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of practical
Adjective
  • There’s enough footage from the prior films to get you up to speed quickly, and none of the individual story arcs matter nearly as much as the larger sense that each season of human life is worthy of its own naturalistic exploration.
    — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Back-to-Nature Garden When an ash tree fell and opened up an area, Erin decided to plant a naturalistic-style garden inspired by a trip to Lurie Garden in nearby Chicago.
    — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of naturalistic
Adjective
  • Kendrick and Rihanna’s vocals remain clear throughout, and the high-end brilliance adds sparkle to the cymbals, generating a more lifelike drum beat.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of lifelike
Adjective
  • Built into a natural ravine, the stadium’s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Given his natural dribbling ability and powerful strike on goal, meaningful attacking contributions should soon begin to surge.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • Skinner hunted the Tensas River in the years before 1860, and left vivid descriptions of the wild state of the land at that time.
    — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The night sky holds endless wonders, but few experiences match the thrill of photographing planets in vivid detail.
    — Damian Peach, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of vivid
Adjective
  • An extended proof could be used to study the three-dimensional world and would become a universal mathematical tool in its own right.
    — Shalma Wegsman, Quanta Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Berkeley researchers also helped develop FinFET, a three-dimensional transistor architecture.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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