dramatic

adjective

dra·​mat·​ic drə-ˈma-tik How to pronounce dramatic (audio)
1
literature : of or relating to drama
a dramatic actor
… has earned three Oscar nominations for his dramatic roles …Nellie Andreeva
… offers an outstanding vocal and dramatic performance …Alison Norton
2
a
: suitable to or characteristic of drama (as in being very exciting or moving)
a dramatic story
a dramatic attempt to escape
a dramatic comeback
b
: sudden and extreme
a dramatic increase/decrease in sales
a dramatic improvement
The changes have had a dramatic impact.
c
: striking in appearance or effect
The speaker made a dramatic pause before the big announcement.
… made a dramatic entrance … in a larger-than-life princess ballgown that encompassed the red carpet.Alyssa Morin
d
: having or showing a tendency to behave or react in an exaggerated way
a dramatic sigh
'This is the most beautiful place in the world,' I gasped. 'You're so dramatic, Jessica,' he said, laughing.Jessica Fox
I started to think, "What if people aren't interested in me, or us, by the end of this pandemic? What am I going to do for the rest of my life?" I don't know why I thought like that. Now that I think about it, I'm so dramatic.Roseanne Chaeyoung Park
3
of an opera singer : having a powerful voice and a declamatory style compare lyric
dramatically adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for dramatic

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 dramatic in a Sentence

His parents noticed a dramatic change in his behavior. There was a dramatic increase in prices. The book tells the dramatic story of her battle with cancer. She made a dramatic entrance wearing a bright red dress. There was a dramatic pause before his big announcement. The painter used dramatic colors. They are members of the local dramatic society.
Recent Examples on the Web The Color Purple star — who looks radiant in the black dress featuring a dramatic leg slit — has been working with star stylist Jennifer Austin for less than six months, but the relationship has quickly evolved from friends and colleagues to a sensibility that felt only familial. Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 His home was among those targeted in a dramatic Nov. 6 search in the gated Gilbert community of Whitewing. Robert Anglen, The Arizona Republic, 10 Mar. 2024 At age 26, a catastrophic injury nearly cost him his left eye and brought his sporting career to a dramatic close. Susan D’arcy, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2024 There have been two dramatic examples of this in just the past few weeks—one that went in favor of the Knicks, one that went against them. Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2024 Subtle ways in which the filmmakers cut corners lead to more overwrought dramatic moments. Stephen Saito, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 But as a work of dramatic fiction, 3 Body Problem never makes a compelling enough argument for why its central quintet would be invested in this — and, thus, why the audience should be. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2024 Floral artists are forgoing vases in favor of dramatic arrangements on the ground. The New York Times, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Spaceman sees Adam take on a more dramatic role, starring as astronaut Jakub alongside Carey Mulligan's Lenka. Alex Cramer, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dramatic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see drama

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dramatic was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near dramatic

Cite this Entry

“Dramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dramatic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dramatic

adjective
dra·​mat·​ic drə-ˈmat-ik How to pronounce dramatic (audio)
1
: of or relating to drama
a dramatic actor
2
a
: suitable to or resembling that of drama
a dramatic escape
b
: attracting attention
made a dramatic entrance
dramatically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on dramatic

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