melodrama
noun
melo·dra·ma
ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə 
-ˌdra-
1
a
: a work (such as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and by the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization
an actor with a flair for melodrama
b
: the genre (see genre sense 1) of dramatic literature constituted by such works
2
: something resembling a melodrama especially in having a sensational or theatrical quality
The trial turned into a melodrama.
Examples of melodrama in a Sentence
Critics dismissed his work as melodrama.
an actor with a talent for melodrama
She is starring in another melodrama.
The trial turned into a melodrama.
a life full of melodrama
Recent Examples on the Web
So what starts out as this high-school melodrama done for laughs grows into something darker and more profound as the story progresses.
—
Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, this romantic melodrama was filmed on the beaches of Big Sur.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Tonally, the story ends up halfway between malformed melodrama about inequity and a mystery steeped in respectability politics, wherein the point is how easily political allegiances (or assumptions about cops who shoot unarmed Black men) can blind one to greater complexities.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
The revelation that Olympia may have hidden the documents should be unsurprising to any Matlock viewer who’s been paying attention — and to anyone who knows anything about how melodrama works.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
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.
Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Directed by Vincente Minnelli, this romantic melodrama was filmed on the beaches of Big Sur.
—Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Tonally, the story ends up halfway between malformed melodrama about inequity and a mystery steeped in respectability politics, wherein the point is how easily political allegiances (or assumptions about cops who shoot unarmed Black men) can blind one to greater complexities.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
The revelation that Olympia may have hidden the documents should be unsurprising to any Matlock viewer who’s been paying attention — and to anyone who knows anything about how melodrama works.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
Cite this Entry
“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
melodrama
noun
melo·dra·ma
ˈmel-ə-ˌdräm-ə
-ˌdram-
1
a
: a work (as a movie or play) marked by the exaggerated emotions of the characters and the importance of action and plot
b
: such works as a group
2
: melodramatic events or behavior
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share