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.

melodramatist

ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-tist 

-ˈdrä-

noun

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

Simplistic binaries might make for powerful melodrama, where the world is divided into good and evil. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024

Like Water for Chocolate is a melodrama in the best possible sense of the word—a larger-than-life historical epic of love and lust, birth and death, duty and destiny. —Judy Berman, TIME, 29 Nov. 2024

As these two movies show, Indian cinema is much more than traditional Bollywood, with its grand melodramas, romantic comedies and action thrillers dotted with song-and-dance routines. —Anupreeta Das, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2024

That first scene in Act 2 is hilarious, (after) the sort of melodrama and pathos. —Chris Willman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

modification of French mélodrame, from Greek melos song + French drame drama, from Late Latin drama

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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