soap opera

noun

1

a

: a serial drama performed originally on a daytime radio or television program and chiefly characterized by tangled interpersonal situations and melodramatic or sentimental treatment

b

: a series of real-life events resembling a soap opera

2

: the melodrama and sentimentality characteristic of a soap opera

even cops need a little soap opera in their lives

—Joseph Wambaugh

also : something (such as a novel) having such qualities

soap-operatic

ˈsōp-ˌä-pə-ˈra-tik 

adjective

Synonyms

• corn
• goo
• mush
• schmaltz
• schmalz
• sludge
• slush
• sorghum

Examples of soap opera in a Sentence

She loves to watch daytime soap operas.

the movie started out well, but quickly devolved into improbable soap opera

Recent Examples on the Web

Its daytime television soap operas and its prime-time dramas are templates of American originals. —Jonny Steinberg, Time, 22 May 2025

Burton has played the mob boss Jason Morgan on the soap opera on and off since 1991, but briefly appeared as Drew Cain, Jason's identical twin, in photos and flashbacks from 2017-2019. —EW.com, 19 May 2025

In her 2010 interview, Alexander looked back on the heady days of being a soap opera star. —Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2025

One thing is likely: This political soap opera is not over yet. Follow me on LinkedIn. —Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

from its sponsorship by soap manufacturers

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

soap opera

noun

: a radio or television drama presented in a series of continuing stories and characters and intended to appeal to the emotions

Etymology

so called because the advertisers on these programs were usually soap manufacturers