Synonym Chooser

How is the word melodramatic distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

When is dramatic a more appropriate choice than melodramatic?

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

When might histrionic be a better fit than melodramatic?

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

When can theatrical be used instead of melodramatic?

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

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 melodramatic The melodramatic suspense series stars Kim You-jung and Kim Young-dae, with Kim Do-hoon and Lee Yu-leum in supporting roles. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025 The filmmaker was thinking of Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia while writing the screenplay—though his resulting work thankfully lacks the melodramatic verve of Anderson’s gargantuan Boogie Nights follow-up. Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 8 Aug. 2025 For example, please check out Hooker's sick baton skills: Thanks to its melodramatic storylines and Shatner's over-the-top performance, T. J. Hooker became a pop culture punchline — though Shatner maintained a sense of humor about the show. EW.com, 8 Aug. 2025 This game lets fans of telenovelas take on the outrageous characters and melodramatic plot twists to tell memorable stories. Rob Wieland, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodramatic
Adjective
  • Here, the great theatrical advocate of wisdom-through-argument admits that argument itself has treacherous ramifications.
    Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2025
  • One idea floated by that distributor is to simply lengthen theatrical windows.
    Brian Welk, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The most dramatic of these are the annual benchmark revisions, which align the monthly survey data with the more comprehensive Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), a near-complete count of jobs derived from unemployment insurance tax records.
    Jeff Gapusan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Advertisement But when Episode 10 ended with Conrad boarding a plane to Paris in pursuit of Belly, fans began gearing up for a dramatic—and possibly heartbreaking—finale.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Their duel is brutal and operatic, the culmination of years of tension between Cleonic brothers.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Previous games have usually centered on large scale wars between nations with operatic narratives.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodramatic. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on melodramatic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!