histrionic
adjective
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The term histrionic developed from histrio, Latin for "actor." Something that is histrionic tends to remind one of the high drama of stage and screen and is often stagy and over-the-top. It especially calls to mind the theatrical form known as the melodrama, where plot and physical action, not characterization, are emphasized. But something that is histrionic isn't always overdone; the word can also simply refer to an actor or describe something related to the theater. In that sense, it becomes a synonym of thespian.
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Examples of histrionic in a Sentence
Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019
Based on Muriel Spark’s indelible novel, the film was a perfect vehicle for Smith’s histrionic charm and seductive wizardry.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024
The movie works only because Kidman can play in such different registers: the muted, wide-eyed bride and her thrilling, histrionic other.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024
These voters are more likely to respond to straight talk about the issues than histrionic talk about the death of American democracy, even if the fear is real.
—Dave Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 22 July 2024
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“Histrionic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/histrionic. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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histrionic
adjective
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