I am looking for a single word for describing dolls that looks like real human beings.
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We're really trying to avoid using this site for "single word requests." If you have a particularly interesting problem to solve, all we ask is that you include a bit of background and research into the question, instead of simply asking "I'm trying to think of a word..." See: meta.english.stackexchange.com/questions/1654/… or meta.english.stackexchange.com/questions/2160/… – Robert Cartaino Jan 4 '12 at 22:20
Lifelike would seem to be the obvious choice.
Verisimilitude captures for 'close to real'.
If you are looking for an adjective which means apparently (but not actually) real, try virtual. Using the adjective form, you could say the dolls are virtually human.¹
Verisimilitude is a noun. Verisimilar is appropriate but sounds like two words.
Would realistic fit the bill?
Other alternatives are naturalistic, graphic, vivid, convincing, compelling
The last word is my preferred option
If you want to say that they look like humans, try humanoid.
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2This seems to me to imply human shape, but not almost real in appearance as the OP requested. – MetaEd Jan 4 '12 at 20:45
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@MetaEd The body of the question says that the dolls look like humans, so this answer applies to those. Downvote if you like, but I think it applies. – user11550 Jan 4 '12 at 20:49
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Not a downvote; it's helpful, as you say, but I do think it misses the point. The OP requsted a word for "almost real in appearance". – MetaEd Jan 4 '12 at 21:10
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@MetaEd By that logic, Irene's answer should also be downvoted. – user11550 Jan 4 '12 at 21:28
Dolls of human size which are used for showing clothes in shop windows are called mannequins.
It may be obvious, it may be literal and it may be hyphenated but how about:
The dolls were so human-like