noun
- extreme realism in art or literature that depicts subjects with uncompromising accuracy and attention to detail
Usage: art and literary criticism
Examples
- The sculptor’s commitment to verism resulted in portraits that captured every wrinkle and blemish.
- Italian verism in opera brought gritty, everyday stories to the stage.
- The novel’s verism made readers uncomfortable with its unflinching portrayal of poverty.
- Critics praised the film’s verism in depicting urban life.
- The artist rejected romantic idealization in favor of stark verism.
- Verism dominated the literary movement of the late 19th century.