melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
Synonyms of melodramatic
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama
a luridly melodramatic script
2
: appealing to the emotions : sensational
the fund-raiser's desperate, melodramatic appeal for more donations
melodramatically
ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of melodramatic

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dramatic, theatrical, histrionic, melodramatic mean having a character or an effect like that of acted plays.

dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply.

a dramatic meeting of world leaders

theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression.

a theatrical oration

histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess.

a histrionic show of grief

melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism.

made a melodramatic plea

Examples of melodramatic in a Sentence

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.
While the country’s Bollywood machine continues apace, favoring melodramatic stories, this JioHotstar program has challenged its audience – and wider society, by extension – to really think about the nature of life in the country. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Zaid’s home is bombed in one intensely melodramatic sequence that culminates in a slow zoom over Zaid cradling his dead wife and child. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 Vurt primarily features the kind of soapy, melodramatic microdramas that have made rival services like DramaBox and ReelShort popular. — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 11 Oct. 2026 But the firing and the fallout make for an invigoratingly melodramatic chapter in a movie that is, again, about a vibe of in-betweenness, of hurry up and wait. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for melodramatic

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of melodramatic was in 1789

Rhymes for melodramatic

See All Rhymes for melodramatic

Browse Nearby Words

melodrama
melodramatic
melodramatics
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Cite this Entry

“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodramatic. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

melodramatic

adjective
melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌmel-ə-drə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
1
: of or relating to melodrama
2
: resembling or suitable for melodrama : sensational
melodramatically
-i-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce melodramatic (audio)
adverb
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