re·al·ist
ˈrē-ə-list 
plural realists
1
: a person who recognizes what is real or possible in a particular situation : one who accepts and deals with things as they really are
a political realist
She considers herself a realist when it comes to parenting.
2
: a person (such as a writer or painter) who adheres to a style of realism by representing things in a way faithful to nature or to real life
Chekhov was essentially more of a realist than Dostoevski, whose force often lay in a strong proclivity to melodrama …—
Roger Shattuck
Roger Shattuck
: in the style of realism : faithful in representation to nature or to real life
realist paintings
Though a number of Dahl's most engaging stories, particularly in his early career, are cast in a realist mode, his reputation is that of a writer of macabre, blackly jocose tales …—Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol OatesExamples of realist in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The vivid, realist stories depict 1980s South Korea during the oppressive military dictatorship of President Chun Doo-hwan; over each hangs the shadow of the Gwangju massacre, in which hundreds or more protesting Chun’s power grab were brutally killed.
—Camille Bromley, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The Trump administration's perspective, as General Kellogg noted, is built upon a realist understanding of international relations.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for realist
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Noun
Even before Israel began its genocidal campaign in Gaza, a Biden Administration policy based on realist internationalism would have respected the desire of a great majority of countries (including U.S. allies) for the United States to return to the original Iran nuclear deal.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The vivid, realist stories depict 1980s South Korea during the oppressive military dictatorship of President Chun Doo-hwan; over each hangs the shadow of the Gwangju massacre, in which hundreds or more protesting Chun’s power grab were brutally killed.
—Camille Bromley, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
What is needed now is a new internationalism: a realist internationalism.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
The Trump administration's perspective, as General Kellogg noted, is built upon a realist understanding of international relations.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for realist
Cite this Entry
“Realist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realist. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
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