a film or play characterized by crude emotional appeal and by the predominance of plot and action over characterization
a work, e.g. a film or play, characterized by crude emotional appeal and by the predominance of plot and action over characterization
the dramatic genre comprising such works
sensational or sensationalized events, language, or behaviour
formerly, a sensational drama interspersed with songs
melodramatic /-drəʹmatik/ adj
melodramatically /-drəʹmatikli/ adv
melodramatist /-ʹdramətist/ noun
[modification of French mélodrame, from Greek melos music + French drame drama]