1
as in dramatic
given to or marked by attention-getting behavior suggestive of stage acting
our office drama queen yet again made the melodramatic declaration that he couldn't take it anymore and was quitting
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2
as in theatrical
having the general quality or effect of a stage performance
he gave his usual melodramatic speech that he had learned his lesson and thereafter would always pay his bills on time
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Recent Examples of melodramatic
There’s nothing sort of overly melodramatic or cathartic about it.
—
Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Microdrama episodes tend to run for between 60 and 90 seconds, and follow melodramatic themes in genres such as romance, sci-fi and thriller.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
That matrix, however, is one of melodramatic grisliness and horror in the style of the French Théâtre du Grand-Guignol.
—Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 25 Dec. 2025
Then cabinet members are given the opportunity to competitively slobber over the president with melodramatic praise.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Microdrama episodes tend to run for between 60 and 90 seconds, and follow melodramatic themes in genres such as romance, sci-fi and thriller.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2025
That matrix, however, is one of melodramatic grisliness and horror in the style of the French Théâtre du Grand-Guignol.
—Michael Dirda, The New York Review of Books, 25 Dec. 2025
Then cabinet members are given the opportunity to competitively slobber over the president with melodramatic praise.
—David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodramatic
Adjective
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The baker's dozen invited to the event on Wednesday represents a dramatic increase from last season.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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The growth in connected TV usage proved most dramatic in Indonesia and the Philippines, highlighting how living room viewing on large screens is becoming central to the streaming category’s evolution.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Others, like the taller H2 model, focused on theatrical flourishes.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Feb. 2026
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With around $40 million stateside, and another $40 million internationally, the film appears poised to break Hollywood's string of box office flops as the industry continues to fret over the increasingly dire economics of theatrical releases.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Yet the performance never quite reaches the operatic madness one associates with the character.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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Layton and his editorial team don’t quite know how to cut all the pieces into an operatic, satisfying whole.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodramatic. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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