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 WebAndrew Byers, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2024
Kline describes Tater’s sister Nellie (Melissa Villaseñor) as a realist, and the relationship with her mom, Bibi (Michelle Ortiz), as loving and supportive.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
Ryu Spaeth, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Today, realist theorists understand U.S.-Chinese tensions as the natural result of a rising China that is working to expand its influence against the resistance of the incumbent power.
—Suisheng Zhao, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for realist 
Noun
In Trump’s first term, these realist impulses were muted and sometimes stopped by hawkish national security staffers who did not share his vision.
—Andrew Byers, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2024
Kline describes Tater’s sister Nellie (Melissa Villaseñor) as a realist, and the relationship with her mom, Bibi (Michelle Ortiz), as loving and supportive.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2024
Adjective
Putting this part of the story in the mouth of an inebriated Frenchman seems nothing less than a crisis of confidence in the realist mode to depict anything at all.
—Ryu Spaeth, Vulture, 4 June 2024
Today, realist theorists understand U.S.-Chinese tensions as the natural result of a rising China that is working to expand its influence against the resistance of the incumbent power.
—Suisheng Zhao, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2023
See all Example Sentences for realist
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'realist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Realist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realist. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
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