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

Charles Mesure, 54, who debuted on the soap opera as the character on Dec. 1, 2023, has opted to step away from the role, PEOPLE can confirm. —Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025

The South African actress appeared on the ABC soap opera from 1997 until her character was killed off in 2001. —Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2025

Charleson died of complications from a long illness, said ABC News, which broadcasts the long-running soap opera. —Theresa Braine New York Daily News (tns), arkansasonline.com, 15 Jan. 2025

In 1990, Lynch's romance road film Wild at Heart earned the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and his TV series Twin Peaks captured the zeitgeist by blending soap opera, mystery, and horror elements. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 24 Jan. 2025

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