REALISTIC
Dictionary entry overview: What does realistic mean?
• REALISTIC (adjective)
The adjective REALISTIC has 3 senses:
1. aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are
2. representing what is real; not abstract or ideal
3. of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of realism
Familiarity information: REALISTIC used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• REALISTIC (adjective)
Meaning:
Aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are
Context examples:
a realistic description / a realistic view of the possibilities / a realistic appraisal of our chances / the actors tried to create a realistic portrayal of the Africans
Similar:
graphic; lifelike; pictorial; vivid (evoking lifelike images within the mind)
practical; virtual (being actually such in almost every respect)
real; veridical (coinciding with reality)
down-to-earth; earthy (sensible and practical)
hard-nosed; hardheaded; practical; pragmatic (guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory)
true to life; true-to-life (representing things or actions or conditions as they actually are)
living (true to life; lifelike)
Also:
possible (capable of happening or existing)
existent; real (being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory)
practical (concerned with actual use or practice)
Antonym:
unrealistic (not realistic)
Meaning:
Representing what is real; not abstract or ideal
Synonyms:
naturalistic; realistic
Context examples:
realistic portraiture / a realistic novel / in naturalistic colors / the school of naturalistic writers
Similar:
representational ((used especially of art) depicting objects, figures,or scenes as seen)
Meaning:
Of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of realism
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
a realistic system of thought
Pertainym:
realism ((philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that physical objects continue to exist when not perceived)
