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Figurative vs Realism - What's the difference?

figurative | realism |

As an adjective figurative

is metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs".

As a noun realism is

a concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary.

figurative

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Metaphorical or tropical, as opposed to literal; using figures; as of the use of "cats and dogs" in the phrase "It's raining cats and dogs".
  • * '>citation
  • Metaphorically so called
  • With many figures of speech
  • Emblematic; representative
  • * Hooker
  • This, they will say, was figurative , and served, by God's appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more divine sanctity.
  • * J. A. Symonds
  • They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they wrote for a public familiar with painted form.

    Usage notes

    * Said of language, expression, etc.

    Antonyms

    * literal

    Derived terms

    * figurativeness * figuratively

    realism

    Noun

  • A concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary
  • An artistic representation of reality as it is
  • (sciences) The viewpoint that an external reality exists independent of observation
  • (philosophy) A doctrine that universals are real—they exist and are distinct from the particulars that instantiate them
  • Antonyms

    * (doctrine concerning universals) nominalism

    See also

    * idealism