realistic
adjective
re·al·is·tic
ˌrē-ə-ˈli-stik 
1
: of, relating to, or marked by literary or artistic realism : accurately representing what is natural or real
a realistic novel
realistic portraiture
realistic sound effects
Such films tend to be more expressionistic than realistic.—
Ira Konigsberg
: convincingly rendered to appear natural
Ira KonigsbergRealistic, sensitive artificial skin would be an important step towards making the prosthetic feel like an extension of the body.—Julian Smith
Julian Smith2
: able to see things as they really are and to deal with them in a practical way
a sensible, realistic person/attitude
trying to be realistic about their chances for success
3
: based on what is real rather than on what is wanted or hoped for : not impractical or visionary
a realistic plan
realistic expectations
setting realistic goals
It's not realistic to expect people to spend that much money on wedding gifts.
For the first time, people with cancers that have long outwitted science have a realistic chance of getting a miracle, too.—Sharon Begley
Sharon Begley
realistically
adverb
depicting a scene realistically
approaching a problem realistically
Examples of realistic in a Sentence
high schoolers who need to be more realistic in their career choices, as so few people end up as rock stars
those special effects look really realistic—I'd never guess they were all computer-generated
Recent Examples on the Web
At least investors are being realistic about Crescent Capital’s dimming prospects of late, driving shares down to a wild 23% discount to NAV.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
The experiential dragon riding is more immersive and realistic
Watching the original Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) learn to saddle up and soar with Toothless entertained a generation of kid film fans.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025
The most realistic video calls ever | Project Starline Prototype
The hardware package from HP includes a 65-inch large light field screen on a floor stand that's designed to deliver a realistic sense of depth.
—New Atlas, 13 June 2025
Randomizing this will look more realistic than using the same schedule daily.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for realistic
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Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
The experiential dragon riding is more immersive and realistic
Watching the original Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) learn to saddle up and soar with Toothless entertained a generation of kid film fans.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 14 June 2025
The most realistic video calls ever | Project Starline Prototype
The hardware package from HP includes a 65-inch large light field screen on a floor stand that's designed to deliver a realistic sense of depth.
—New Atlas, 13 June 2025
Randomizing this will look more realistic than using the same schedule daily.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for realistic
Cite this Entry
“Realistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realistic. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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