PHOTO-REALISTIC Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

photo-realistic

adjective

as in realistic

closely resembling the object imitated photo-realistic portraits of birds that caused some gallerygoers to forget that they were looking at paintings

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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 photo-realistic The likeness remains strikingly photo-realistic, but the anachronism of Dalí taking a selfie sinks the interaction into the uncanny valley. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026 When Tez’s narration fails to fully visualize an incident or an idea, the documentary relies on animation from Office of Development and Design, imagery that alternates between borderline photo-realistic and hallucinatory, depending on the need. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026 Meanwhile, photo-realistic images are equally deceptive. — Tamilla Triantoro, The Conversation, 20 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for photo-realistic

Adjective

America’s Micron is building fabs in the United States, but significantly replacing Korea’s output is not realistic.

— Dan Blumenthal, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026
Building realistic best-case, base-case and downside scenarios helps companies adjust before a shift becomes a crisis.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of realistic

Adjective

The Luxury Pillow keeps your head and neck in the ideal position to stay asleep all night, made with soft bamboo viscose material that naturally repels common household non-living allergens.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
To overcome these limitations, the UMass Amherst researchers adopted a different approach, inspired by how living organisms distribute energy production throughout their tissues.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of living

Adjective

Oakley also brings a welcome naturalistic feel to a script by Diana Reid, with a strong sense of nature itself but also the reality of economic hardship — or what stands for economic hardship in an Austen novel.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
There is a naturalistic aesthetic to the film, augmented by the locations, the costumes and the hair and makeup design.

— Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of naturalistic

Adjective

The menu focused on clean, whole ingredients, sacrificing robust seasoning to let the natural flavors shine.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
An elfin force of nature with the natural showmanship of someone who takes hospitality seriously, Leo has the charisma to command the loyalty of his fresh-faced staff—and the pragmatism to resent the Labour Party’s business reforms.

— Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of natural

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photo-realism

photo-realistic

photos

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“Photo-realistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/photo-realistic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of photo-realistic

adjective

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