melodramatize

verb

melo·​dra·​ma·​tize ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-ˌtīz 

-ˈdrä-

melodramatized; melodramatizing; melodramatizes

transitive verb

1

: to make melodramatic

melodramatize a situation

2

: to make a melodrama of (something, such as a novel)

melodramatization

ˌme-lə-ˌdra-mə-tə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌdrä-

noun

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1