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.

melodramatist

ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-tist 

-ˈdrä-

noun

Example Sentences

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

Even Carlson appears settled into his role as hypeman for the low-stakes melodrama. —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 23 Jan. 2023

This new Walker series often relegates the crimefighting to the B-plot, while the family melodrama gets the spotlight. —Noel Murray, Chron, 11 Jan. 2023

Moehringer, at least, knows this, even if Harry may hope that his own royal plot will swerve unexpectedly from implacable tragedy to restitutive melodrama. —Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2023

The Rehearsal is a meta-documentary and melodrama and meditation on the extremely human desire to control the uncontrollable. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2022

Otherwise, her mission has been to keep digging for layers of character within each line and each song, with a lot of generosity, no judgment and as little melodrama and sentimentality as possible. —Ben Brantley, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2022

Resisting treacly melodrama, Hansen-Løve tells this elemental story of loss and rebirth with graceful restraint, respecting her characters (and her audience) too much to resort to manipulative gimmicks. —Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2023

The underlying material is part of it: a progressive-minded allegory is better than a regressive-minded racial melodrama. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2022

She is known for her transcendent performance in Trey Edward Shults’s indie melodrama Waves, which earned the actor a Gotham Award. —Vulture, 16 Nov. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids 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