1
as in theatric
given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting
our office drama queen yet again made the melodramatic declaration that he couldn't take it anymore and was quitting
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2
as in theatrical
having the general quality or effect of a stage performance
he gave his usual melodramatic speech that he had learned his lesson and thereafter would always pay his bills on time
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Recent Examples of melodramatic
There’s an awkward mix of comic highjinks and violence, melodramatic moments, dead spots and repetition.
—
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
As is, the film is somehow both glancing and melodramatic, a strange and underwhelming cocktail of blasé Euro sleekness and TV-movie drama.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 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
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
As is, the film is somehow both glancing and melodramatic, a strange and underwhelming cocktail of blasé Euro sleekness and TV-movie drama.
—Richard Lawson, IndieWire, 7 Sep. 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
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodramatic
Adjective
-
And Netflix doesn’t do theatrical releases.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
16 Oct. 2025
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Designed with an amalgamation of pure engineering and engineered for theatrical performance, the bridge literally breathes fire and water.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Premier League football in the 2000s could be dramatic and explosive, but what the nostalgia for that era ignores is the number of dour, sterile games there were, many of them settled by a goal from a set piece.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Playing the role of a manager to George Clooney’s movie star character in the film, critics have praised him for what is clearly been another step in his evolution as a dramatic actor.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Italian operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti and Canadian rocker Bryan Adams played the venue, too.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
3 Oct. 2025
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This musical blends gospel and Motown with operatic stylings to illuminate the changing times of the Civil Rights era while examining social and familial issues still prevalent today.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodramatic. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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