Synonyms for

Realism

Verb / ˈri:ʌlɪzm / Another word for realism — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Realism is an approach to art or literature that represents things as they really are, without idealizing them or making them more beautiful than they actually are.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • social realism
  • magical realism
  • political realism
  • economic realism
  • critical realism
  • artistic realism
  • a sense of realism

Word family

noun realism
verb realize
adjective realistic

Usage note

Realism refers to the acceptance of a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly. It is often contrasted with idealism.

Example sentences

  1. The artist used realism to paint a portrait of his grandmother.
  2. The movie was praised for its realism in depicting a historical event.
  3. Realism in literature often focuses on the lives of ordinary people.
  4. The author's use of realism made the story more relatable to readers.
  5. The play's realism made the audience feel like they were part of the story.

Quotes

  • Realism is not a matter of any fidelity to an empirical reality, but of the discursive conventions by which and for which a sense of reality is constructed.
  • Realism … has no more to do with reality than anything else.
  • Realism is the most common mode of depiction in the cinema because it is the simplest to understand.

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