naturalistic
Americanadjective
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pertaining to naturalists or natural history.
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pertaining to naturalism, especially in literature and art.
adjective
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of, imitating, or reproducing nature in effect or characteristics
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of or characteristic of naturalism, esp in art or literature
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of or relating to naturalists
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(of an ethical theory) permitting the inference of ethical judgments from statements of nonethical fact See Hume's law
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of naturalistic
Explanation
Something that's naturalistic looks real. If you say "excuse me" to a naturalistic mannequin in a store, then that mannequin must look like the real deal! Naturalistic things resemble or are influence by reality, so a naturalistic conversation in a movie sounds like something people would really say to each other, and the naturalistic mooing sound your little cousin makes sounds like a real cow. The 1849 definition of naturalistic was "aiming for realism," from natural and its Latin root, naturalis, "according to nature."
Vocabulary lists containing naturalistic
Drama Terminology
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Reading: Literature - Drama - High School
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Words to Describe a Work of Art
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His “Age of Bronze” famously appeared so naturalistic that critics accused him of casting from his male model’s body.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
What obviously matters to Stewart is the totality of experience and “The Chronology of Water,” arty and naturalistic in equal measure, is no toe-dip into directing — it’s deep-end stuff from start to finish.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2026
Even the sound mix is brutally naturalistic, with the dialogue fighting to be heard over the whoosh of traffic in the exterior scenes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
Having Albert Brooks as a best friend likely molded his style too; both were forerunners of a school of comedy that merged a naturalistic, conversational delivery with an absurdist sensibility.
From Salon • Dec. 21, 2025
Moche artists confined themselves to perhaps half a dozen subjects, painting stories of supernatural figures on pottery and murals with ever more naturalistic technique.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
