1
as in theatrical
having the general quality or effect of a stage performance
the basketball player's dramatic announcement of his sudden retirement held everybody spellbound
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exaggerated
given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting
oh, don't be so dramatic, and just tell us, without the pregnant pauses, what happened
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in noticeable
likely to attract attention
a dramatic drop in the temperature overnight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of dramatic
The single most visually dramatic element is the 111 Founders tower, which flourished after its construction in the early 1970s.
—
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no dramatic inhale or fill to signal the delay, nor does the dusty beat pan out.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
The apparent breakdown of particle physics at this scale has inspired some dramatic theories.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
The stories were always dramatic.
—Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dramatic
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
There’s no dramatic inhale or fill to signal the delay, nor does the dusty beat pan out.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Mar. 2026
The apparent breakdown of particle physics at this scale has inspired some dramatic theories.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
The stories were always dramatic.
—Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dramatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dramatic
Adjective
-
Emily brought her dramatic energy to the shows, thrashing her skinny way through the crowds in her surrealist thrift-store getups, crowd-surfing and stage diving and taking elbows to the face with theatrical aplomb.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Yamazaki, who won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for his work on Godzilla Minus One, will introduce the footage in a special appearance highlighting the global reach of theatrical filmmaking.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The large police presence was noticeable even before the commissioners’ meeting, when 14 city police officers and sheriff’s deputies stood outside.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Fine-line flicks also made a quiet but noticeable debut on runways for Giorgio Armani Prive, Jovana Louis, and Prabal Gurung.—
Loren Savini,
Allure,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But the Labèque sisters will be at Walt Disney Concert Hall at the end of the month with a two-piano program based on Glass’ operatic Cocteau trilogy.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The music by George and Ira Gershwin and DuBose and Dorothy Heyward blends jazz, blues and spiritual music with operatic forms.—
Dan Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most prominent political rival, Imamoglu stands accused by prosecutors of leading a criminal organization.—
Beril Akman,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Among the most prominent findings from community outreach, which included surveys, walkabouts, pop-up events and a builder’s breakfast, were concerns about traffic speeding, inadequate lighting, lack of street trees and the absence of a cohesive identity for the corridor.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The accomplishment of the Pidden brothers demonstrates how creativity, persistence, and technical knowledge can lead to remarkable achievements.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Below, discover the standout pieces editors are hoping to find and secure your tickets to the Vogue Vintage Market to shop even more remarkable vintage via eBay.—
Minty Mellon,
Vogue,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Republicans have a less commanding lead, 52-44, among Catholics.—
John C. Moritz,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
-
He's gone from about halfway down the list in the betting odds to having a pretty commanding lead over Johnson in Atlanta.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Devin Lloyd, the Jacksonville Jaguars inside linebacker who spent 2025 compiling one of the most impressive stat-lines in the NFL, agreed to a 3-year, $45 million deal, a league source told The Observer.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Rusadze, Giorgadze, and Chasserot have built an impressive industry network over the years, so for their official debut, have secured an impressive roster of backstage talent and models through friends who are keen to support.—
Lucy Maguire,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Both militaries have scored striking successes.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The Boise City Council has finalized changes to its zoning code, striking electric vehicle charging requirements while opening up more options for homes on single-family lots in a suite of changes designed to spur the city’s lagging housing stock.—
Mark Dee
March 12,
Idaho Statesman,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dramatic. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
