melodramatic
adjective
melo·dra·mat·ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik 
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of melodrama
a luridly melodramatic script
2
: appealing to the emotions : sensational
the fund-raiser's desperate, melodramatic appeal for more donations
melodramatically
ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- dramatic
- hammy
- histrionic
- stagy
- stagey
- theatrical
- theatric
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Oh, quit being so melodramatic!
Recent Examples on the Web Taking it back to the days of summer jobs at country clubs, dancing on table tops and melodramatic teen angst — the resident theater of Hinsdale’s Community House is bringing to its stage July 29, High School Musical 2: On Stage. 
Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2022 The best of the interludes was before the Finale, with Gaga at her most melodramatic. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2022 And, sure, the film, though choking on melodramatic goo at times, is a nostalgic and fun re-watch. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2022 More recent examples are melodramatic or comedic, setting the stage for the cartoonish nature of the meme. Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2022 Without the burden of respectability, of shouldering stories for an entire community, the show is free to be light, frothy, melodramatic, and unafraid to offend. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 July 2022 Heck, on the same service as The Man from Toronto sits RRR, a three-hour Indian action spectacular that at its most unapologetically over-the-top and melodramatic feels like a dare to James Wan and James Cameron. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 29 June 2022 The house lights dimmed and a sort of political trailer played, set to melodramatic music. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 The ending depends on a perverse kind of deus ex machina that some readers will consider too melodramatic. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 June 2022 See More
Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2022 The best of the interludes was before the Finale, with Gaga at her most melodramatic. Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2022 And, sure, the film, though choking on melodramatic goo at times, is a nostalgic and fun re-watch. Deanna Janes, Harper's BAZAAR, 8 Aug. 2022 More recent examples are melodramatic or comedic, setting the stage for the cartoonish nature of the meme. Sarah Spellings, Vogue, 4 Aug. 2022 Without the burden of respectability, of shouldering stories for an entire community, the show is free to be light, frothy, melodramatic, and unafraid to offend. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 July 2022 Heck, on the same service as The Man from Toronto sits RRR, a three-hour Indian action spectacular that at its most unapologetically over-the-top and melodramatic feels like a dare to James Wan and James Cameron. Scott Mendelson, Forbes, 29 June 2022 The house lights dimmed and a sort of political trailer played, set to melodramatic music. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 27 June 2022 The ending depends on a perverse kind of deus ex machina that some readers will consider too melodramatic. Ron Charles, Washington Post, 7 June 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
melodramatic
adjective
melo·dra·mat·ic ˌme-lə-drə-ˈma-tik
: extremely or overly emotional
a melodramatic scream
melodramatic
adjective
1
as in theatrical
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- theatrical
- dramatic
- theatric
- histrionic
- exaggerated
- stagey
- hammy
- stagy
- conspicuous
- staged
- unnatural
- sensational
- overacted
- showy
- overdone
- grandiose
- flamboyant
- actorly
- mannered
- elaborate
- pretentious
- ostentatious
- actressy
- actorish
- studied
- artificial
- self-conscious
- affected
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undramatic
- unpretentious
- restrained
- nondramatic
- subdued
- unaffected
- muted
- conservative
- underplayed
- toned (down)
- simple
- inconspicuous
- plain
- modest
- quiet
- nontheatrical
- discreet
2
as in theatric
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- theatrical
- theatric
- dramatic
- operatic
- emotional
- histrionic
- stagey
- stagy
- surprising
- wonderful
- sensational
- exciting
- spectacular
- overdramatic
- dramaturgic
- hammy
- marvellous
- astonishing
- marvelous
- amazing
- actorly
- wondrous
- awesome
- dramaturgical
- ham
- emotionalistic
- affected
- astounding
- actressy
- actorish
- fabulous
- eye-opening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undramatic
- monotonous
- unexciting
- uneventful
- unsensational
- matter-of-fact
- unspectacular
- unrewarding
- uninspiring
- ordinary
- unexceptional
- commonplace
- unnewsworthy
- common
- stale
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of melodramatic are dramatic, histrionic, and theatrical. While all these words mean "having a character or an effect like that of acted plays," melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism.
made a melodramatic plea
The words dramatic and melodramatic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply.
a dramatic meeting of world leaders
While the synonyms histrionic and melodramatic are close in meaning, histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess.
a histrionic show of grief
While in some cases nearly identical to melodramatic, theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression.
a theatrical oration
- microprogrammings
- microprograms
- microprojection
- microprojections
- microprojector
- microprojectors
- micropteri
- micropterism
- micropterous
- Micropterus
- micropteruses
- micropterusses
- micropterygid
- Micropterygidae
- micropublication
- micropublisher
- micropublishers
- micropublishing
- micropublishings
- micropulsation
- micropulsations
- micropuncture
- micropunctures
- Micropus
- micropylar