melodramatic

Examples

• All

• Stewart, aren't you being a little melodramatic, perhaps?

  The Cobweb (1955)

• Sounds a bit melodramatic, don't you think?

  Charlie Bartlett (2008)

• And besides, deep down, she still thought they were all being melodramatic over all this.

  Fiction book (1991)

• Am I really that melodramatic?

  The Prankster (2010)

• And more than a little melodramatic.

  Alien³ (1992)

• It's important, when the other side is being so melodramatic, to sound like we're the sane ones.

  Dark Water (2005)

• Do you think it's possible they're being a little melodramatic?

  The Night Listener (2006)

• The films tend to be melodramatic, heavy on emotion, and full of conflict involving a villain.

  Academic text (2006)

• You will, of course, dismiss this, say I'm being melodramatic, and to a degree you will be right.

  Fiction book (1991)

• And I said, at the risk of sounding melodramatic, we're going to have to synchronize our watches like in the movies.

  Danny Jones

Synonyms

T

theatrical

vsmelodramatic

98 4.8

Related to the theatre or showing strong feeling in a dramatic way like an actor on stage

is similar but focuses more on exaggerated feeling than stage craft

M

mushy

vsmelodramatic

• Informal

27 4.3

Showing too much emotion in a way that seems silly or fake

focuses more on bold dramatic show rather than mild sentimentalism

S

sappy

vsmelodramatic

• Offensive

23 7.0

Too emotional in a way that feels silly or fake

is more about dramatic gesture and intensity than simple silliness

M

maudlin

vsmelodramatic

8 8.0

Too emotional in a way that seems silly or not sincere

is more about grand, theatrical display than soft sentimentality

O

overdramatic

vsmelodramatic

7 4.9

Showing too much feeling about small things

is less extreme but still theatrical in emotion

H

histrionic

vsmelodramatic

6 8.7

To act in a very dramatic way that seems not real

is similar but more tied to dramatic style than clinical acting

S

sensationalist

vsmelodramatic

• Literature

5 7.5

Using shocking or exaggerated details to attract attention

focuses on dramatic personal display rather than provoking public attention

O

overemotional

vsmelodramatic

3 5.0

Showing too much feeling for the situation

stresses dramatic presentation more than mere excess of feeling

M

mawkish

vsmelodramatic

2 9.4

Showing feelings that are not real and too sweet

is broader and often more performance oriented than sugary sentiment

H

hyperemotional

vsmelodramatic

1 7.9

Showing very strong feelings that change quickly and seem too much

is similar but centers more on showy dramatization than instability

B

bathetic

vsmelodramatic

• Literature

1 9.9

Too sentimental in a way that feels fake or silly

leans more toward bold dramatic acting than sentimental affect

T

theatric

vsmelodramatic

6.7

Relating to the theatre or acting and showing very dramatic behaviour

applies more to emotional display rather than formal acting contexts

A

actressy

vsmelodramatic

• Informal

8.4

Showing loud, dramatic behaviour that seems fake

is broader, covering all exaggerated emotional displays not only acting style

P

psychodramatic

vsmelodramatic

8.7

Showing very strong, theatrical feelings like people acting in a play

is more general and fits many dramatic contexts beyond therapeutic scenes

Antonyms

U

unemotional

11 4.4

Not showing strong feelings

S

stoic

1 6.3

A person who does not show strong feelings even when hurt or sad

R

reserved

3.7

Not willing to show feelings or talk much

How Dramatic

histrionic

6 8.7

overwrought

13 7.8

melodramatic

32 5.6

dramatic

358 3.6

emotional

535 2.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology