Meaning & use
realism
The attitude or practice of accepting and dealing with situations as they actually are, without illusion.
See it in a sentence
Her realism about the company's finances helped the team plan for a difficult year ahead.
Nineteenth-century realism in painting rejected idealized scenes in favor of everyday, ordinary life.
A note on using this word
In art and literature, realism refers to a specific movement depicting subjects truthfully, distinct from the general everyday sense of practicality.
Words with a similar meaning
pragmatismpracticality
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Words with an opposite meaning
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