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
Realistic, sensitive artificial skin would be an important step towards making the prosthetic feel like an extension of the body.—Julian Smith
2
: 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
realistically
adverb
depicting a scene realistically
approaching a problem realistically
Cite this Entry
“Realistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realistic. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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