psychodrama

noun

psy·​cho·​dra·​ma ˌsī-kō-ˈdrä-mə How to pronounce psychodrama (audio)
-ˈdra-
1
: an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted
2
: a dramatic narrative or work characterized by psychological overtones
3
: an often ongoing psychological struggle
also : an expression of psychological turmoil
psychodramatic adjective

Examples of psychodrama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The endless psychodrama surrounding the national team is merely a symptom of the chaos. Jack Lang, New York Times, 16 May 2025 All those effects can startle for sure, but there’s a lot to take in and pay attention to in this multi-leveled multimedia psychodrama. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 5 May 2025 This will test the Jonathan Majors bodybuilding psychodrama that debuted at Sundance in 2023 but was derailed by abuse accusations against its star after winning the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision and a distribution deal with Searchlight Pictures, which dropped it. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025 Comic pastiche gives way to tender romantic ballads only to explode in musical psychodrama. Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for psychodrama

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of psychodrama was in 1932

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Cite this Entry

“Psychodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/psychodrama. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Medical Definition

psychodrama

noun
: an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted
psychodramatic adjective

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