soap opera

noun

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: soap opera in a Sentence

Definition of soap opera

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

play \ˈsōp-ˌä-pə-ˈra-tik\ adjective

See soap opera defined for English-language learners

See soap opera defined for kids

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 of soap opera from the Web

The event, which included a fashion show and a brief appearance by California congressional candidate and former soap opera actor Antonio Sabato Jr., was billed as a celebration of President Trump’s June 14 birthday.

— jennifer barrios, Washington Post, "In speech at Trump-related event, Corey Stewart says he disavows racism, bigotry," 24 June 2018
In the middle of the ring, towering above the crowd in high heels and a blue wig, drag queen Pollo Del Mar kicked off a night of over-the-top wrestling, complete with rivalries, soap opera antics and prolonged heckling.

— beth spotswood, San Francisco Chronicle, "Pro wrestling gets a hold in the city, San Francisco style," 5 June 2018
The modern-day soap opera deals with loss, love and strappy sandals.

— tara paniogue, latimes.com, "10 films and TV series to help get summer started right this holiday weekend," 25 May 2018
Keener’s performance keeps the film grounded even as blunt scenes of the opposing camp’s machinations flirt with soap opera villainy.

— tom russo, BostonGlobe.com, "It’s David vs. Goliath in ‘Little Pink House’," 2 May 2018
Markle's life in Baja California is worlds away from Buckingham Palace, and the less formal lifestyle here seems better suited to the 73-year-old former soap opera lighting director.

— sandra dibble, latimes.com, "Meghan Markle's father lives in a quiet Baja town; but the British paparazzi have come knocking," 1 Apr. 2018
After a while this starts to feel like dithering, or the machinations of soap opera.

— gary thompson, Philly.com, "'Disobedience': A lesbian affair in an ultra Orthodox community | Movie review," 10 May 2018
Its current programming lineup includes news, game shows and telenovelas (soap operas).

— michael mcgough, sacbee, "¡Gol! Republic FC partnership will give some Spanish-speaking fans a new option | The Sacramento Bee," 16 Mar. 2018
Producers later erased the footage to film soap operas, according to Steve Sabol of NFL Films.

— larry dobrow, Woman's Day, "12 Fascinating Things You Didn't Know About the Super Bowl," 8 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'soap opera.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.