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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of melodramatic
Calva plays Rodrigo Rojas, a telenovela actor who is anxious to break away from his melodramatic roles.
—
Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
The show’s one and only joke is that the story is played more or less straight and true to the language of soap operas with pregnant pauses, cheesy music cues, and melodramatic reveals — which is funny for a few scenes before turning into a laughless bore.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
My mother was two parents in one, both male (decisive and withholding) and female (melodramatic and fanciful) at the same time.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
But many of Hoover’s fans outright rejected it for glossing over gritty details like the family struggling with finances for full focus on the teenage love story, posting viral videos of audiences laughing at melodramatic scenes in the theater.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 23 Mar. 2026
The show’s one and only joke is that the story is played more or less straight and true to the language of soap operas with pregnant pauses, cheesy music cues, and melodramatic reveals — which is funny for a few scenes before turning into a laughless bore.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
My mother was two parents in one, both male (decisive and withholding) and female (melodramatic and fanciful) at the same time.
—Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
But many of Hoover’s fans outright rejected it for glossing over gritty details like the family struggling with finances for full focus on the teenage love story, posting viral videos of audiences laughing at melodramatic scenes in the theater.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for melodramatic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodramatic
Adjective
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The life of a music director at a major opera company is inevitably one engaged in tragedy, and Conlon exhibits the dramatic flair to grip its emotional immensity.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Surely, many are concerned over the dramatic impact this innovation will have on jobs and workforce participation, particularly given how quickly these changes are anticipated.—
Bill Connolly,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The rise in streaming, the pandemic and shifting theatrical windows altered people’s moviegoing habits, perhaps permanently.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
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But this stunner of a show, based on the Joel Schumacher film, is a solid theatrical transformation, rich in imagination, humor and heart — and with spectacular special effects.—
Frank Rizzo,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The set pieces are massive, and the color and lighting are lush in a way that feels almost operatic.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2026
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Another is Elise Barensfeld, also one of Beethoven’s operatic friends.—
Brian Duignan,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Melodramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodramatic. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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