naturalistic

adjective

ˌna-ch(ə-)rə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce naturalistic (audio)
variants also naturalist
Definition of naturalisticnext
as in realistic
closely resembling the object imitated the movie's volcanic eruption is so naturalistic that it's easy to forget that it all came out of a computer

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of naturalistic The glossy foliage has a soft look perfect for more naturalistic screens. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026 There’s enough footage from the prior films to get you up to speed quickly, and none of the individual story arcs matter nearly as much as the larger sense that each season of human life is worthy of its own naturalistic exploration. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026 Back-to-Nature Garden When an ash tree fell and opened up an area, Erin decided to plant a naturalistic-style garden inspired by a trip to Lurie Garden in nearby Chicago. — Teresa Woodard, Midwest Living, 12 Aug. 2026 The lighting is somewhere between fantasy and noir, all moody shadows and otherworldly mists, precise and in no way naturalistic. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for naturalistic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for naturalistic
  1. realistic
  2. living
  3. natural
  4. lifelike
  5. three-dimensional
Adjective
  • This was a back-door effort to coerce Detroit to phase out the internal combustion engine, as the only realistic way car makers could meet the requirement was to massively expand their EV or hybrid inventories.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The center is designed to develop and train humanoids specifically for public safety applications, with engineers using realistic environments and mock-ups to test the machines and collect training data.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • Researchers developed LEDs that emit UVC at wavelengths below 235 nm, which is also absorbed by the outer, non-living layers of the skin.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Communal living can look like co-living – where people choose to live with others in one house or building – or co-housing – which is a community built around a group of houses.
    — Brittany Luse, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of living
Adjective
  • For Miraval The Red Sea, Foster + Partners architects have designed 180 guest rooms, suites, and villas with biophilic shapes and natural materials, allowing the accommodations to seamlessly fit into the landscape.
    — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Toxins were found in all types of cat food — wet, dry and air- or freeze-dried — even in products labeled as natural and nutritionally superior, according to the analysis released Friday.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • Samsung The Samsung 65-inch Class QN70H Series Neo 4K Smart TV delivers a breathtaking home theater experience using Quantum Mini LED technology for exceptional brightness, deep contrast, and lifelike colors.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Tousle-haired, rosy-cheeked and 10 inches tall, Topo Gigio was remarkably lifelike — equipped with a moving mouth and blinking eyes.
    — Kaja Andric, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of lifelike
Adjective
  • An algorithm translates those measurements into a three-dimensional representation of the sheet.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Mathematician Hong Wang won a Fields medal this summer for solving the three-dimensional version of this problem with mathematician Joshua Zahl.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of three-dimensional

Browse Nearby Words

naturalism
naturalistic
naturalize
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Cite this Entry

“Naturalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/naturalistic. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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