melodrama
noun
melo·dra·ma
| \ ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə
, -ËŒdra-\
, -ËŒdra-\
Definition of melodrama
1a
: a work (such as a movie or play) characterized by extravagant theatricality and by the predominance of plot and physical action over characterization
an actor with a flair for melodrama
b
: the genre (see genre sense 1) of dramatic literature constituted by such works
2
: something resembling a melodrama especially in having a sensational or theatrical quality
The trial turned into a melodrama.
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Other Words from melodrama
melodramatist
\ ˌme-lə-ˈdra-mə-tist
, -ˈdrä- \
noun
, -ˈdrä- \
noun
Examples of melodrama in a Sentence
Critics dismissed his work as melodrama.
an actor with a talent for melodrama
She is starring in another melodrama.
The trial turned into a melodrama.
a life full of melodrama
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Recent Examples on the Web
The dialogue, score, and performances are all steeped in melodrama. — Shirley Li, The Atlantic, "The Cheap Thrills of The Kitchen and Why Women Kill," 19 Aug. 2019 The moment Clay asserts his agency and tries to exit their racial melodrama, Lula delivers a fatal blow, only to restart her homicidal cycle with another unsuspecting black man. — New York Times, "‘Fairview’: Watching a Play in Black and White," 7 Aug. 2019 Nonetheless, the film’s most intense action and gravest danger is emotional; its melodrama suggests a much larger span of action, including flashbacks. — Richard Brody, The New Yorker, "A Nineteen-Fifties TV Series That Let Directors Run Free," 30 July 2019 The result is something that’s neither committed to its melodrama nor intimidating enough to be menacing — a floundering, forgettable song. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "The Lion King remake isn’t a better movie, but it did a few things better than the original.," 17 July 2019 Sunset, the forty-two-year-old French-Hungarian filmmaker László Nemes’s follow-up to his astonishing 2015 debut Son of Saul, is a gothic melodrama and a modernist period piece, set on the eve of World War I and shadowed by impending doom. — The New York Review of Books, "J. Hoberman," 7 Mar. 2019 The Emmy-winning series has thrived by striking a rare tone between nuance and melodrama and has delivered some of the most exciting and deeply rich female characters on television in recent history. — Kathleen Newman-bremang, refinery29.com, "How Big Little Lies Did Bonnie A Major Disservice By Ignoring Her Race," 23 July 2019 Hopper and Joyce’s romantic tension and conflicts rival their kids’ for melodrama and humor. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: ‘Stranger Things’ reinvents itself for a stellar Season 3," 30 June 2019 Pluto Moment thrives on this mix of earthly melodrama and ethereal imagery. — Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Pluto Moment' ('Ming Wang Xing Shi Ke'): Film Review | Cannes 2018," 23 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'melodrama.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for melodrama
melodrama
noun
English Language Learners Definition of melodrama
: drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions
: a situation or series of events in which people have very strong or exaggerated emotions
See the full definition for melodrama in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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