melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik 

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama

a luridly melodramatic script

2

: appealing to the emotions : sensational

the fund-raiser's desperate, melodramatic appeal for more donations

melodramatically

ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• dramatic
• hammy
• histrionic
• stagy
• stagey
• theatrical
• theatric

Choose the Right Synonym for melodramatic

dramatic, theatrical, histrionic, melodramatic mean having a character or an effect like that of acted plays.

dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply.

a dramatic meeting of world leaders

theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression.

a theatrical oration

histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess.

a histrionic show of grief

melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism.

made a melodramatic plea

Examples of melodramatic in a Sentence

Oh, quit being so melodramatic!

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, soundtracking heartbreak and angst became Mayday Parade’s specialty with their extremely quotable, melodramatic lyrics. —Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 18 Apr. 2025

The show swings, with melodramatic ease, between success and failure. —Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025

LeBlanc never moves her camera away from the ground level; there are no policy prescriptions, no litanies of statistics and no melodramatic statements about pity or persistence. —Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Jump to: Today’s Theme | Tricky Clues TUESDAY PUZZLE — In 2021, AMC released a melodramatic ad to encourage people to return to movie theaters. —Sam Corbin, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for melodramatic

• adiabatic
• aristocratic
• asymptomatic
• axiomatic
• diagrammatic
• diaphragmatic
• electrostatic
• endolymphatic
• epigrammatic
• homeostatic
• idiomatic
• magnetostatic

Kids Definition

melodramatic

adjective

melo·​dra·​mat·​ic ˌmel-ə-drə-ˈmat-ik 

1

: of or relating to melodrama

2

: resembling or suitable for melodrama : sensational

melodramatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb