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

In 2021, Breeds, who was starring in Clarice at the time, spoke with PEOPLE about meeting her husband Mitchell on the set of the long-running Aussie soap opera Home and Away. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024

The popular Peacock soap opera, which was just renewed for Season 61 at the beginning of the month, will feature upcoming tribute episodes for Hayes, who died in January at 98, this week. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024

The newest outing will mark the iconic soap opera’s third season of streaming exclusively on Peacock. —Selome Hailu, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

His first big job was on the soap opera As the World Turns. —Seija Rankin, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Oct. 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