melodrama

noun

melo·dra·ma | \ ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə

, -ˌdra-\

Definition of melodrama

1a : 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.

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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 on the Web

But a pleasingly devious streak, at times reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith, winds through the collection, offsetting the latent melodrama. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction Books: Tapped Into a Kind of Magic," 25 Oct. 2018 Though its trailer veers dangerously close to melodrama, A Star Is Born had reviewers raving following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last week. — Julie Kosin, Harper's BAZAAR, "This New Clip of Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born Proves You Will Never Get The Movie's Songs Out of Your Head," 7 Sep. 2018 To all this, the Tainaner Ensemble one-man show, visiting from Taiwan as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival, adds melodrama’s pieces of flair. — Lily Janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "Projections the highlight of ‘Solo Date’ at S.F. International Arts Fest," 1 June 2018 The pacing of this dual murder exploration is uncertain, the tone too often swerves toward melodrama, and the timeline gets confusing as the small-town characters multiply. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, "Is the True-Crime Fever Breaking? Watching Netflix’s John Grisham Documentary The Innocent Man," 14 Dec. 2018 The new season appears to fit in as much melodrama and unrelenting darkness as its predecessor. — Travis M. Andrews, chicagotribune.com, "'13 Reasons Why' Season 2 trailer drops: Here's what we know about where the series goes," 9 May 2018 The soapy melodrama centers on a bookstore clerk, Joe (Penn Badgley), who develops an obsession with a woman named Beck (Elizabeth Lail). — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "You Season 2: Here's Everything We Know So Far," 11 Jan. 2019 Heartbreak-rage-move on is a formula that has fed every kind of pop culture for centuries, from the Bible to movie melodramas. — Meredith Clark, SELF, "Why Some Couples Can Recover After Cheating and Others Can't," 27 Dec. 2018 So as Rome’s budget melodrama unfolds, the concern shouldn’t be that Italy will choose to jump out of the euro. — Joseph C. Sternberg, WSJ, "Italy Issues a Euro Dare to Germany," 11 Oct. 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.