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
Dystopian literalism bleeds into all the proceedings here, moving like a wheel within a wheel.
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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
But as there is a push for greater casting freedoms in some areas, there is an argument for more literalism in others, especially from actors with certain backgrounds who lack opportunities.
—New York Times, 28 July 2022
Meanwhile, Wilde’s direction manages to be simultaneously overheated and pedestrian, resorting to blunt-force literalism in moments that call for Hitchcockian finesse.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for literalism 
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
But as there is a push for greater casting freedoms in some areas, there is an argument for more literalism in others, especially from actors with certain backgrounds who lack opportunities.
—New York Times, 28 July 2022
Meanwhile, Wilde’s direction manages to be simultaneously overheated and pedestrian, resorting to blunt-force literalism in moments that call for Hitchcockian finesse.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2022
See all Example Sentences for literalism
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Literally
A word that (literally) drives people nuts
Thesaurus Entries Near literalism
Cite this Entry
“Literalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/literalism. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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