as in naturalism
realistic depiction in art and literature
using ordinary people as models, even when depicting the greatest of saints, Caravaggio brought an unforgiving realism to painting that was unprecedented
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Recent Examples of realism
Theory of surfing is there's just no room for realism in surfing, right?
—
Outside Online, 2 July 2025
The movie producers focused on realism throughout the development of the film.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
In a series like Adolescence, where the story needs to have a sense of realism, finding the right amount of music can be a difficult challenge.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 20 June 2025
Setting the presence of so many exceptionally beautiful people aside, Contagion succeeded in its goal of realism, earning praise from disease experts as well as critics and audiences.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for realism
Outside Online, 2 July 2025
The movie producers focused on realism throughout the development of the film.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025
In a series like Adolescence, where the story needs to have a sense of realism, finding the right amount of music can be a difficult challenge.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 20 June 2025
Setting the presence of so many exceptionally beautiful people aside, Contagion succeeded in its goal of realism, earning praise from disease experts as well as critics and audiences.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for realism
Recent Examples of Synonyms for realism
Noun
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With utter naturalism, Kulumbegashvili and her star dramatize a cruel, sexist reality that’s as unescapable as that inexplicable creature that repeatedly invades the story, its faceless presence a chilling, surreal metaphor for a society preying on Nina and her patients.—
Tim Grierson,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2025
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The mockumentary is packed with amazing deadpan performances by young actors whose comic timing and naturalism make for consistently hilarious television.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Like a film or a novel, architectural restoration manipulates time, reversing, stopping, and tricking it, all in pursuit of verisimilitude.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
10 July 2025
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And like that Tom Cruise sequel, F1 plays up the fact that authenticity, verisimilitude and a you-are-there-feeling can often make the difference between a fun afternoon at the moving pictures and an immersive adrenaline rush.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/realism. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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