soap opera

noun

1

a

: a serial drama performed originally on a daytime radio or television program and chiefly characterized by tangled interpersonal situations and melodramatic or sentimental treatment

b

: a series of real-life events resembling a soap opera

2

: the melodrama and sentimentality characteristic of a soap opera

even cops need a little soap opera in their lives

—Joseph Wambaugh

also : something (such as a novel) having such qualities

soap-operatic

ˈsōp-ˌä-pə-ˈra-tik 

adjective

Synonyms

• corn
• goo
• mush
• schmaltz
• schmalz
• sludge
• slush
• sorghum

Examples of soap opera in a Sentence

She loves to watch daytime soap operas.

the movie started out well, but quickly devolved into improbable soap opera

Recent Examples on the Web

Nussbaum writes that the producer interference that goes into creating these unscripted soap operas can be directly traced to PBS’s An American Family,which followed the upper-middle-class Loud family. —Kyndall Cunningham, Vox, 26 June 2024

Nussbaum traces four paths of reality innovation—game shows, prank shows, soap operas, and clip shows—that united in the Survivor format, sparking a tumultuous Hollywood gold-rush. —Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 21 June 2024

Marie Osmond Reveals Working on The Bold and the Beautiful Was a 'Bucket List' Life Achievement (Exclusive) Last fall, Marie Osmond appeared as the wealthy Countess Von Frankfurt — a role that fulfilled her lifelong dream of finally making her soap opera debut. —Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 18 June 2024

Passion Fish Year: 1992 Runtime: 2h 15m Director: John Sayles The brilliant writer/director John Sayles delivered one of his most beloved films in this 1992 drama about a soap opera star (Mary McDonnell) who has been paralyzed after being hit by a cab. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

from its sponsorship by soap manufacturers

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

soap opera

noun

: a radio or television drama presented in a series of continuing stories and characters and intended to appeal to the emotions

Etymology

so called because the advertisers on these programs were usually soap manufacturers