psychodrama

noun
psy·​cho·​dra·​ma | \ ˌsī-kō-ˈdrä-mə How to pronounce psychodrama (audio) , -ˈdra-\

Definition of psychodrama

1 : an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted
2 : a dramatic narrative or work characterized by psychological overtones
3 : an often ongoing psychological struggle also : an expression of psychological turmoil

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Other Words from psychodrama

psychodramatic \ ˌsī-​kō-​drə-​ˈma-​tik How to pronounce psychodramatic (audio) \ adjective

Examples of psychodrama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kanye West’s recent few releases staged psychodramas about monogamy and aging. Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, "Chance the Rapper Wants You to Get Married," 30 July 2019 Yet even in the swelling canon of British rural miserabilism, this unrelentingly intense psychodrama burrows beneath the skin. Clio Barnard, New York Times, "Review: A ‘Dark River’ of Abuse Separates a Brother and Sister from Their Inheritance," 28 June 2018 Tension mounts throughout in this bare-bones psychodrama. Soren Andersen, The Seattle Times, "‘The Guilty’: Abduction drama focuses on one cop — and one riveting performance," 16 Oct. 2018 Get our daily newsletter Mr Seehofer’s psychodrama troubled the rest of the European Union, too; a mini-summit was arranged to help resolve it. The Economist, "How policy debates in Europe become untethered from reality," 12 July 2018 Rowe’s spare but effective approach has echoes — in the deep extended pliés, the slow-motion silent scream, and the engine of psychodrama — of Swedish choreographer Mats Ek. Mary Ellen Hunt, SFChronicle.com, "Through the darkness, SFDanceworks takes flight," 9 June 2018 Jensen’s script has turned the early years of Mary Shelley’s life into a pure psychodrama determined by events. Josephine Livingstone, The New Republic, "Poor Mary Shelley!," 23 May 2018 But as a psychodrama about a troubled mother and daughter, this movie is gripping from start to finish. Noel Murray, latimes.com, "In 'Pyewacket,' the demons between a mother and daughter might terrify more than the demon in the woods," 22 Mar. 2018 Garland’s achievement with Annihilation is in merging sci-fi horror with a more intimate psychodrama. David Sims, The Atlantic, "Deconstructing Annihilation's Ending," 26 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'psychodrama.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of psychodrama

1932, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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More Definitions for psychodrama

psychodrama

noun
psy·​cho·​dra·​ma | \ ˌsī-kō-ˈdräm-ə, -ˈdram-; ˈsī-kō-ˌdräm-ə, -ˌdram- How to pronounce psychodrama (audio) \

Medical Definition of psychodrama

: an extemporized dramatization designed to afford catharsis and social relearning for one or more of the participants from whose life history the plot is abstracted

Other Words from psychodrama

psychodramatic \ -​kō-​drə-​ˈmat-​ik How to pronounce psychodramatic (audio) \ adjective