melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik 

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

ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• dramatic
• hammy
• histrionic
• stagy
• stagey
• theatrical
• theatric

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

Starring actress Brown pushes the emotion hard — to her performance’s melodramatic detriment at points — and kid actor Turnbull matches that energy. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2024

La Maison is melodramatic—soapy, even—but in a world of frothy shows like Emily in Paris, consider this an Aesop opera. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2024

Adedayo carries the melodramatic weight of this narrative. —Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024

The soap followed the melodramatic lives of a group of people in their 20s sharing an apartment complex on Melrose Place in Los Angeles. —Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌmel-ə-drə-ˈmat-ik 

1

: of or relating to melodrama

2

: resembling or suitable for melodrama : sensational

melodramatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb