histrionic
adjective
Did you know?
If you’re already familiar with the history of histrionic, take a bow. But if you’re still waiting (in the wings or elsewhere) to learn, we’ve got you covered. The adjective histrionic traces back to the Latin noun histrio, meaning “actor.” Something described as histrionic tends to recall the high drama of stage and screen, and especially the theatrical form known as melodrama, where characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions. But something that is histrionic isn’t always overdone; histrionic is also used (though less frequently) simply to describe something related to acting or the theater, as in “histrionic talent/skills.” Note that the noun histrionics refers to either theatrical performances, or, more commonly, to a deliberate display of emotion for effect, as in “parents used to the child’s histrionics.”
Synonyms of histrionic
Examples of histrionic in a Sentence
John Devore, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2026
His characters included Gayle Waters-Waters, a histrionic suburban woman based, in part, on his own mother, who co-starred as Gayle’s friend Bonnie.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
The gap between how Trump is perceived by some Republicans (strong and confident) and his actual persona (overwrought and histrionic) is large.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Her performances could be massive: histrionic, narcissistic, imperious, angry, full of passion and neurosis.
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for histrionic
Cite this Entry
“Histrionic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/histrionic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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histrionic
adjective
