Synonyms of realistic

realistic

adjective

ˌrē-ə-ˈli-stik 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pragmatic
• practical
• sensible
• rational
• reasonable
• logical
• matter-of-fact
• down-to-earth
• cynical
• earthy
• hardheaded
• sound
• grounded
• sober
• sane
• utilitarian
• commonsensical
• skeptical
• hard
• pessimistic
• unsentimental
• unromantic
• levelheaded
• bottom-line
• disillusioned
• no-nonsense
• tough-minded
• suspicious
• hard-edged
• idealless
• misanthropic
• sobersided
• distrustful
• philistine
• mistrustful
• hard-boiled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unrealistic
• idealistic
• impractical
• utopian
• imaginative
• fanciful
• romantic
• blue-sky
• visionary
• fantastic
• optimistic
• sentimental
• cheerful
• theoretical
• unreasonable
• irrational
• insane
• illogical
• trusting
• trustful
• rose-colored
• unsuspicious
• half-baked

2

as in living

closely resembling the object imitated

those special effects look really realistic—I'd never guess they were all computer-generated

Synonyms & Similar Words

• living
• naturalistic
• lifelike
• natural
• vivid
• three-dimensional
• compelling
• photo-realistic
• graphic
• similar
• accurate
• comparable
• like
• true
• near
• convincing
• matching
• approximate
• alike
• analogous
• faithful
• expressive
• close
• verisimilar
• akin
• resembling
• gritty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unrealistic
• unnatural
• unlike
• dissimilar
• different
• off
• nonrealistic
• incomparable
• nonnatural
• unmatched
• disparate
• contrasting
• fake
• unalike
• mock
• phony
• sham
• contrasted

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of realistic

Actors portraying patients arrived with realistic makeup and prosthetics designed to mimic blunt-force trauma, propeller injuries, burns and other emergency conditions. — Jessica Riley, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

There is a realistic chance that Minnesota’s first round matchup will be against the Wings. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Sep. 2026

The aim of the abolitionists, realistic or not, has always been not just to eliminate the bombs but also to alter the conditions that might lead countries to use them. — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026

Instead of sitting through slides, staff can practice realistic conversations in a safe environment, learn from mistakes and repeat rare scenarios as often as needed. — Russell Sarder, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026