melodrama

noun melo·dra·ma \ ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə , -ˌdra- \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of melodrama

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 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.

—

melodramatist

play \ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-tist, -ˈdrä-\ noun

See melodrama defined for English-language learners

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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 of melodrama from the Web

This, too, is a way to be American, with flair, perseverance, excess and a pleasure in the inherent melodrama of being oneself.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Adam Rippon's Grace Under Pressure Is Exactly What the Olympics Needed," 12 Feb. 2018
Whedon hit just the right balance levels of action and emotion, comedy and melodrama - and the box office responded in kind.

— michael cavna, courant.com, "From 'Avengers: Infinity War' to 'Iron Man': All 19 Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, ranked," 27 Apr. 2018
Maggie had been dragged into easing Clinton melodrama for years, including reluctantly taking over in 2008 from then campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, who was fired after Iowa.

— amy chozick, The Hive, "“Organization Don’t Mean Shit”: Inside the Beginning of the End of the Clinton Campaign," 23 Apr. 2018
Scandal was, with respect to its plot, as close as network television comes to true madness, a melodrama in which power and murder went hand-in-hand and traded off being the defining aphrodisiac for a team of antiheroes.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Scandal Helped Define the Obama Era. And Maybe Predicted Trump's," 19 Apr. 2018
If the first week of April felt a little (comparatively speaking) light on political melodrama, last week made up for it, and how.

— graeme mcmillan, WIRED, "While You Were Offline: The Final Days of Paul Ryan," 15 Apr. 2018
Part 6: Somewhere between India and Oregon, the life-or-death melodrama surrounding Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh's failing health dissipated like a contrail against a summer sky.

— grant butler, OregonLive.com, "Read The Oregonian's original 20-part investigative series on Rajneeshees," 20 Mar. 2018
Comey's deliberative, forensic manner contrasted to the emotional, angry tirades in which his nemesis, Trump, prefers to communicate was on display on another extraordinary day in the melodrama of the current presidency.

— stephen collinson, CNN, "Trump now faces Comey's moral assault," 16 Apr. 2018
The first photo of Meryl Streep on the set of Season 2 of Big Little Lies reveals so little and yet so much about how cinema’s grande dame will fit into HBO’s Monterey mom melodrama.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "Emmy Voters Grapple with a Controversial New Hit," 6 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of melodrama

modification of French mélodrame, from Greek melos song + French drame drama, from Late Latin drama

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1802

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Performing Arts Terms

diva, dramaturgy, loge, prestidigitation, proscenium, supernumerary, zany

MELODRAMA Defined for English Language Learners

melodrama

noun

Definition of melodrama for English Language Learners

: drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions
: a situation or series of events in which people have very strong or exaggerated emotions

Learn More about melodrama

See words that rhyme with melodrama Spanish Central: Translation of melodrama Nglish: Translation of melodrama for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of melodrama for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about melodrama

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