melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama
a luridly melodramatic script
2
: appealing to the emotions : sensational
the fund-raiser's desperate, melodramatic appeal for more donations
melodramatically adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for melodramatic

dramatic, theatrical, histrionic, melodramatic mean having a character or an effect like that of acted plays.

dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply.

a dramatic meeting of world leaders

theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression.

a theatrical oration

histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess.

a histrionic show of grief

melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism.

made a melodramatic plea

Examples of melodramatic in a Sentence

Oh, quit being so melodramatic!
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Movies in this questionably political category tend to feature othered people dealing with some melodramatic version of struggle. Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 6 Jan. 2025 Instead, their presence tips the narrative into something both more melodramatic and more conventional, with blazing showdowns and a climax of moral retribution worthy of Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge. Tom Gliatto, People.com, 3 Jan. 2025 The best way to tackle this show is to watch Season 1, then look up the big spoiler for Season 2, and then skip Season 2 and watch Season 3, where the program ultimately settles into its melodramatic, soapy groove. Erin Strecker, IndieWire, 3 Jan. 2025 An entire sense of history was contained within its melodramatic stories. Manuel Betancourt, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for melodramatic 

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melodramatic was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near melodramatic

Cite this Entry

“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodramatic. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

melodramatic

adjective
melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌmel-ə-drə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
1
: of or relating to melodrama
2
: resembling or suitable for melodrama : sensational
melodramatically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on melodramatic

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