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.
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
The compact nature of the production, performed without intermission in just over 90 minutes, awkwardly exposes the melodrama that Ibsen took great pains to undercut.
—
Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Granted, some ceded ground is required in order to rebuild the story engine, but Season 2 still overindulges in comparably flat characters whose arcs are stuffed with unnecessary backstories and thin melodrama.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026
But it is also structured like a mystery and a melodrama where big psychological twists are announced on the spur of a moment.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The trembling bass mixed with faded talk-raps (somewhere between fakemink’s blurry party reports and SoundCloud-era Nav’s fame-hungry melodrama) feels like listening to Mustard’s pop-rap formula from inside the club bathroom.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
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Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
Granted, some ceded ground is required in order to rebuild the story engine, but Season 2 still overindulges in comparably flat characters whose arcs are stuffed with unnecessary backstories and thin melodrama.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026
But it is also structured like a mystery and a melodrama where big psychological twists are announced on the spur of a moment.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2026
The trembling bass mixed with faded talk-raps (somewhere between fakemink’s blurry party reports and SoundCloud-era Nav’s fame-hungry melodrama) feels like listening to Mustard’s pop-rap formula from inside the club bathroom.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
Cite this Entry
“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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