Closely resembling the appearance or behavior of something living and real.
Reach for it when praising convincing representation while leaving room to name the particular kind of accuracy
The museum's lifelike model shows how the bird folds its wings in flight.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional |
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| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
Fits when the illusion succeeds for its audience
Careful A convincing model can omit features that lifelike fidelity would preserve.
everyday
Fits when the representation agrees with ordinary reality
Careful Realistic can concern probability or expectations rather than visual resemblance.
warm
true-to-life
Fits when recognizable fidelity matters in accessible criticism
Careful True-to-life can describe behavior and story, not only physical appearance.
professional
naturalistic
Fits when art follows observed nature instead of stylization
Careful Naturalistic describes an artistic method and may still simplify fine detail.
professional
photorealistic
Fits when image detail approaches the look of a photograph
Careful Photorealistic is visual and says nothing about movement, texture, or behavior.
formal
verisimilar
Fits when specialist criticism needs a precise claim of seeming true
Careful Verisimilar is uncommon and can burden general readers.
literary
Fits when strong detail makes a subject feel present
Careful Vivid work can be imaginative or exaggerated rather than accurate.
lifelike portrait
The lifelike portrait captured both the sitter's posture and quiet humor.
remarkably lifelike
The paper flowers looked remarkably lifelike from across the room.
lifelike movement
Lifelike movement made the training robot useful for rescue practice.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Qwertygiy, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
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