melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik 

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 

adverb

Synonyms

• theatric
• theatrical
• dramatic

Choose the Right Synonym for melodramatic

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

Oh, quit being so melodramatic!

Recent Examples on the Web

That should turn our attention to those strictures, rather than to questioning the verisimilitude of her melodramatic doom. —Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025

Like soap operas, The Gilded Age is melodramatic and often ridiculous, with a world populated by stock characters who live through endless plot twists. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025

The melodramatic suspense series stars Kim You-jung and Kim Young-dae, with Kim Do-hoon and Lee Yu-leum in supporting roles. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025

The filmmaker was thinking of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia while writing the screenplay—though his resulting work thankfully lacks the melodramatic verve of Anderson’s gargantuan Boogie Nights follow-up. —Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for melodramatic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

Kids Definition

melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌmel-ə-drə-ˈmat-ik 

1

: of or relating to melodrama

2

: resembling or suitable for melodrama : sensational

melodramatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb