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 livesJoseph Wambaugh
also : something (such as a novel) having such qualities
soap-operatic adjective

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
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.
The company was called Toptal, which is short for top talent, and his investment marked the beginning of a soap opera that has soiled reputations, caused turmoil within a promising startup, and sparked a battle that today is raging in federal court. Jon Fortt,paige Tortorelli, CNBC, 7 Jan. 2025 And there are very few programmes, outside of soap operas and telenovelas, that provide that sort of steady drumbeat of content, entertainment and storytelling throughout the year. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025 In Hardcore mode, World of Warcraft has become the best soap opera on the internet, all playing out across over dozens of OnlyFangs creator streams every day. Kazuma Hashimoto, Rolling Stone, 2 Jan. 2025 Oppenheimer Watch on Prime Video Passion Fish Year: 1992 Runtime: 2h 15m Director: John Sayles The brilliant writer/director John Sayles delivered one of his most beloved films in this 1992 drama about a soap opera star (Mary McDonnell) who has been paralyzed after being hit by a cab. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for soap opera 

Word History

Etymology

from its sponsorship by soap manufacturers

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of soap opera was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near soap opera

Cite this Entry

“Soap opera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soap%20opera. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on soap opera

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