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.
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
Newly announced as a Sundance 2026 premiere, and based on an idea from the 33-year-old pop musician herself, filmmaker Aidan Zamiri’s feature directorial debut isn’t your typical victim-of-fame melodrama.
—
Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
The melodrama about a girl cloistered in her home by a controlling brother, played in the inaugural edition of the Red Sea Film Festival in 2021 as one of the first productions to come out of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the lifting of the cinema ban.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025
The series takes its melodrama seriously, with evident dedication to its staging its complicated fight scenes, of which there are many, and its investment in sets and costumes and effects; the fake blood budget alone must be staggering.
—Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
So most of them [films] at the time, there’s the melodrama — the poor girl falls with a rich boy, and then the family against her, blah, blah, same old story.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
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Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
The melodrama about a girl cloistered in her home by a controlling brother, played in the inaugural edition of the Red Sea Film Festival in 2021 as one of the first productions to come out of Saudi Arabia in the wake of the lifting of the cinema ban.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2025
The series takes its melodrama seriously, with evident dedication to its staging its complicated fight scenes, of which there are many, and its investment in sets and costumes and effects; the fake blood budget alone must be staggering.
—Robert Lloyd, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025
So most of them [films] at the time, there’s the melodrama — the poor girl falls with a rich boy, and then the family against her, blah, blah, same old story.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
Cite this Entry
“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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