dramatic

adjective

dra·mat·ic | \ drə-ˈma-tik

Definition of dramatic

1 literature : of or relating to the drama a dramatic actor

2a : suitable to or characteristic of the drama a dramatic story a dramatic attempt to escape a dramatic comeback

b : striking in appearance or effect a dramatic pause

3 of an opera singer : having a powerful voice and a declamatory style — compare lyric

Other Words from dramatic Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about dramatic

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Synonyms & Antonyms for dramatic

Synonyms

histrionic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy (or stagey), theatrical (also theatric)

Antonyms

undramatic

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 most dramatic moment was testimony from Mr. Harris’s son, a 29-year-old assistant U.S. attorney. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "Vote Fraud, in the Flesh," 22 Feb. 2019 There are some dramatic beauty moments to look forward to, as well. — Erika Trombley, Seventeen, "This "Descendants 3" and "American Beauty Star" Crossover Episode Is To Die For," 20 Feb. 2019 Away from the London hordes in a small alley in Covent Garden, Neal’s Yard is a dramatic departure in a city most often characterized by the color gray. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 25 most colorful cities in the world," 19 Feb. 2019 In a dramatic moment Thursday, Feinstein claimed under questioning from Sens. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "After tumultuous Kavanaugh hearing, swing-vote senators weigh judge's fate: 'It's a tough one'," 1 Oct. 2018 Wisconsin isn’t the only state where folks are choosing to take dramatic action; 15 others are also part of the Mid-American Monarch Conservation Strategy led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. — Anna Groves, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "They're beautiful — and in danger. Now, a huge effort focuses on saving monarch butterflies," 13 July 2018 And the truth about American culture since then has been this dramatic infusion of multiple voices into the stream. — James Hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, "For theater community, finding ways to reflect societal diversity onstage is more urgent than ever," 13 July 2018 The steeper the increase in elevation, the more dramatic of an adaptation your body has to go through. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "What Exactly Is Altitude Sickness?," 20 Dec. 2018 Less dramatic than the difference between the first pair of images, this comparison represents a step change from crummy, noisy, and unusable to a perfectly decent shot. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "Google’s Night Sight for Pixel phones will amaze you," 25 Oct. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dramatic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.