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 of melodramatic

• dramatic
• theatrical

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Other movies would have made a religious ideal of the suffering mother, attempted to proselytize its audiences, or wallowed in the melodramatic urge for a father figure. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2026

Magazine understands that an experience need not be melodramatic or unique to be deeply transformative, and that moments of joy or bitterness, confusion or clarity, can all sit side by side. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

Metz’s essay observes how The Bear utilizes the similar techniques as previous Golden Age of Television series (like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones) to exaggerate small-scale conflict to melodramatic proportions. — Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

However in more melodramatic fashion than the film’s title suggests, that past comes back to haunt him in the form of a young man named Miguel Vasque, son of Jorrison’s father’s gardener Carlos (Santiago Cabrera). — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026

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