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
Synonyms of realistic
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
The Orange County Commission decided on a 4-3 vote last month to continue its long fight against the Split Oak cut-through, approved by the state in 2024, even though its attorneys have said there is no longer a realistic hope of stopping the road.
—Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2026
Part of the logic of Frank’s appointment was that even if his teams might not have the ceiling of Postecoglou’s side, his meticulous and realistic approach would mean a higher floor.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This cadence is frequent enough to keep dust and dirt from settling in, but realistic enough to make a consistent habit.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
To prove that Claude was just hamming it up, Nostalgebraist replicated the experiment under more convincingly realistic circumstances.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for realistic
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Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Feb. 2026
Part of the logic of Frank’s appointment was that even if his teams might not have the ceiling of Postecoglou’s side, his meticulous and realistic approach would mean a higher floor.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
This cadence is frequent enough to keep dust and dirt from settling in, but realistic enough to make a consistent habit.
—Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 10 Feb. 2026
To prove that Claude was just hamming it up, Nostalgebraist replicated the experiment under more convincingly realistic circumstances.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for realistic
Cite this Entry
“Realistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realistic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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