realism
noun
re·al·ism
ˈrē-ə-ˌli-zəm 
1
: concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary
2
a
: a doctrine that universals exist outside the mind
specifically
: the conception that an abstract term names an independent and unitary reality
b
: a theory that objects of sense perception or cognition exist independently of the mind compare nominalism
3
: the theory or practice of fidelity in art and literature to nature or to real life and to accurate representation without idealization
Synonyms
Examples of realism in a Sentence
He has a sense of realism about what can be done to improve the economy.
The realism of her dream was alarming.
the stark realism of the play
Recent Examples on the Web
The choice to shoot the central trio rather straightforwardly can therefore (given the sometimes unflattering realism) feel loaded.
—
Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The magical realism of Téa Obreht's novels have been capturing readers' imaginations since her 2011 debut, The Tiger's Wife, which won the coveted Orange Prize for Fiction.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2024
However, generative AI brings a new level of realism to such features.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Italy’s Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism – and resilience.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
This prologue is a kind of burlesque allegory of injustices that much of the rest of the film will examine with harrowing realism.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
Through an embodied camera eye that moves freely in the in-between place that is an alley connecting two streets, Fortune evokes a sense of magical realism and offers texture to the meditation on the Chinese American identity, which can also be characterized as a liminal space.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024
Carter had criticized Nixon, Ford, and Kissinger for being insufficiently compassionate in their realism, but his own national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, persuaded him to get tough with Moscow.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The technology evolved in the 1980s and 1990s as sportswear manufacturers began using it to put new products through their paces, while the addition of more individual heating zones to the mannequins added further realism.
—Amit Katwala, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
The magical realism of Téa Obreht's novels have been capturing readers' imaginations since her 2011 debut, The Tiger's Wife, which won the coveted Orange Prize for Fiction.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2024
However, generative AI brings a new level of realism to such features.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024
Italy’s Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism – and resilience.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Feb. 2024
This prologue is a kind of burlesque allegory of injustices that much of the rest of the film will examine with harrowing realism.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2024
Through an embodied camera eye that moves freely in the in-between place that is an alley connecting two streets, Fortune evokes a sense of magical realism and offers texture to the meditation on the Chinese American identity, which can also be characterized as a liminal space.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 14 Mar. 2024
Carter had criticized Nixon, Ford, and Kissinger for being insufficiently compassionate in their realism, but his own national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, persuaded him to get tough with Moscow.
—Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
The technology evolved in the 1980s and 1990s as sportswear manufacturers began using it to put new products through their paces, while the addition of more individual heating zones to the mannequins added further realism.
—Amit Katwala, WIRED, 12 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'realism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near realism
Cite this Entry
“Realism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realism. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
realism
noun
re·al·ism
ˈrē-ə-ˌliz-əm
ˈri-ə-
1
: willingness to face facts and to give in to what is necessary
2
: the showing of things as they really are in art, literature, and theater
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