as in realism
realistic depiction in art and literature
if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel
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Recent Examples of literalism
The Biblical literalism question points to the answer: non-fundamentalist Christians have shifted toward evolution over the years.
—
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2012
The silhouette, the outline, and the shadow were, as the anthology’s editors indicate, crucial tools in this arsenal of suggestion—visual forms quite outside the usual repertoire of Pop art, which depended on an arch literalism for its effects.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023
Dystopian literalism bleeds into all the proceedings here, moving like a wheel within a wheel.
—Rob Weinert-Kendt, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2022
Artistic license met biblical literalism, an awkward compromise was reached, but prominent Christian activists will still probably leave disappointed and the controversy will go on.
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2014
See all Example Sentences for literalism 
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2012
The silhouette, the outline, and the shadow were, as the anthology’s editors indicate, crucial tools in this arsenal of suggestion—visual forms quite outside the usual repertoire of Pop art, which depended on an arch literalism for its effects.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2023
Dystopian literalism bleeds into all the proceedings here, moving like a wheel within a wheel.
—Rob Weinert-Kendt, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2022
Artistic license met biblical literalism, an awkward compromise was reached, but prominent Christian activists will still probably leave disappointed and the controversy will go on.
—Kyle Hill, Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2014
See all Example Sentences for literalism
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Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
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Cite this Entry
“Literalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literalism. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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