as in realism
realistic depiction in art and literature
if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 literalism
Its musings on the spiritual — or even on the innocent, the naïve, the youthful — begin and end in the realm of documentarian literalism.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
For decades the insistence on the truth value of rap lyrics was of paramount importance; now, that has run headlong into the literalism of law enforcement interpretation.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The spectacle here is one based on literalism: nothing need be imagined ever again.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the first one post-Barbie, which has ushered in a new wave of literalism on the red carpet.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025
For decades the insistence on the truth value of rap lyrics was of paramount importance; now, that has run headlong into the literalism of law enforcement interpretation.
—Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The spectacle here is one based on literalism: nothing need be imagined ever again.
—Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 18 Jan. 2025
This is the first one post-Barbie, which has ushered in a new wave of literalism on the red carpet.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 6 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for literalism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for literalism
Noun
-
The acting is grounded in realism but the writing refuses to keep the characters under lock and key.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
-
But Francis gravitated to the realism — even the populism — of a later painter with much less polish.—
Jason Farago,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
But the naturalism had a function that went beyond popular accessibility.—
Jason Farago,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
On the one side stood religious fundamentalism with its insistence on a literal reading of scripture and submission to institutional authority; on the other stood scientific naturalism with its insistence that only empirical methods were valid routes to knowledge.—
Ben Woollard,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Jan. 2025
Video
Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Cite this Entry
“Literalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literalism. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share