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

As previously reported, The Talk will be replaced by Beyond the Gates, daytime’s first new soap opera in a quarter-century, which will premiere Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 16 Dec. 2024

Yellowstone’s appeal wasn’t so much about the story as the idea Sheridan was selling with his wildly successful Western soap opera. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Seeking out where his wife has gone would play up the soap opera textures of the Peacock and Spy original that has been otherwise focused on James Bond-like spycraft. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Dec. 2024

News of Christopher's death was shared by his One Life to Live co-star Anthony Crivello, who played Christopher's son on the long-running soap opera. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

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