melodrama

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

|Updated on: 11 Jul 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

See melodrama defined for kids

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

Neymar has shown flashes of his ability, but they've been overshadowed by moments of melodrama.

— SI.com, "World Cup Preview: Brazil vs Belgium - Previous Meeting, Team News, Predictions & More," 5 July 2018
The revelation that Robert Mueller subpoenaed a bit player in the Trump-Russia melodrama, Andrii Artemenko, to appear before a Virginia grand jury last month went largely unnoticed.

— abigail tracy, The Hive, "Was Viktor Vekselberg Bankrolling Michael Cohen’s Pro-Russia Peace Plan for Ukraine?," 8 June 2018
Republicans seemed to play the villain in the melodrama.

— dustin gardiner, azcentral, "Arizona Legislature passes state budget, including #RedForEd teacher pay-raise plan," 2 May 2018
The move, announced Wednesday, is the latest in a political melodrama that has gripped the Loudoun County town of 10,000 people since longtime town manager Robert Lohr Jr. was forced to retire last spring.

— antonio olivo, Washington Post, "Purcellville fires deputy town manager in fallout from political scandal," 12 Apr. 2018
Eddie Jacks: nicknamed for a character on the old TV melodrama Peyton Place—a sinister character, which didn’t fit Ed in the least.

— earl swift, Outside Online, "The Incredible True Story of the Henrietta C.," 20 June 2018
The book also touches on some foreign-policy melodrama as Obama made his exit from the world stage, amid a shifting geopolitical climate that included Brexit and rising disenchantment with globalism.

— gregg re, Fox News, "Obama's right-hand man: Trump used our playbook to beat Clinton," 1 June 2018
But on the other hand, Italy’s continuing political melodrama has demonstrated that Europe’s populist insurgents are under immense constraints.

— The Economist, "Political chaos in Italy as new elections beckon," 31 May 2018
The director complicates the scenario by making the boxer fall in lover with the ballerina as well, creating a polyphonic romantic melodrama.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign Discover the work of noted Japanese genre director Umetsugu Inoue," 30 May 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