as in realism
realistic depiction in art and literature
the author of this crime novel uses profuse profanity in the name of verismo, but its effectiveness palls after a couple of chapters
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Recent Examples of verismo
The operas — which feature the post-Romantic Italian style of realism known as verismo — explore devastating and primal themes such as jealousy, infidelity and murder.
—
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Last produced by San Diego Opera in 2015, Ruggero Leoncavallo’s 1892 verismo opera will open the company’s all-classics 2025-26 season next month.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025
On his debut album, Jonathan Tetelman lavishes his sumptuous tenor and almost poetic attention on classic Romantic and verismo arias.
—New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
The passions are vintage verismo.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2021
This is a far cry from Verga’s verismo and prompts the reflection that when one is trapped in a drastically dysfunctional relationship, the solution might be distance.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 23 Feb. 2021
Influenced by French literary circles, the Italian verismo movement considered the real world worth representing.
—Christy Thomas, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2018
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2026
Last produced by San Diego Opera in 2015, Ruggero Leoncavallo’s 1892 verismo opera will open the company’s all-classics 2025-26 season next month.
—Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2025
On his debut album, Jonathan Tetelman lavishes his sumptuous tenor and almost poetic attention on classic Romantic and verismo arias.
—New York Times, 22 Dec. 2022
The passions are vintage verismo.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2021
This is a far cry from Verga’s verismo and prompts the reflection that when one is trapped in a drastically dysfunctional relationship, the solution might be distance.
—Tim Parks, The New York Review of Books, 23 Feb. 2021
Influenced by French literary circles, the Italian verismo movement considered the real world worth representing.
—Christy Thomas, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for verismo
realism
Noun
-
The point of cinematic realism is the inner life, and the miracle of movies is their power to portray subjectivity, though few filmmakers manage to attain that power—even despite their best efforts.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Miller structured the play differently, snapping back between realism and symbolism, as manifest in Jo Mielziner’s famous original set.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Verismo.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/verismo. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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