melodrama
noun
melo·dra·ma
ˈme-lə-ˌdrä-mə 
-ˌdra-
1
a
: 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.
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
Recent Examples on the Web
There was a lot of love for The Brutalist, Brady Corbet’s extraordinary shout-out to both 1950s wide-screen melodramas and 1970s moody epics, which was not a surprise.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
The film teases a will-they-or-won’t-they frisson about the two, and occasionally taps a lush score that wafts in the romantic melancholy of a 1960s American melodrama (making one wonder if the score from May December is starting to have its first, unironic imitations).
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Mahler handled this melodrama with remarkable composure; apparently, the two men digressed into a discussion of the brokenness of modern art.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
But the director and his actors play it with neither sensationalism nor melodrama.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2025
The film teases a will-they-or-won’t-they frisson about the two, and occasionally taps a lush score that wafts in the romantic melancholy of a 1960s American melodrama (making one wonder if the score from May December is starting to have its first, unironic imitations).
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Mahler handled this melodrama with remarkable composure; apparently, the two men digressed into a discussion of the brokenness of modern art.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
But the director and his actors play it with neither sensationalism nor melodrama.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for melodrama
Cite this Entry
“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
melodrama
noun
melo·dra·ma
ˈmel-ə-ˌdräm-ə
-ˌdram-
1
a
: a work (as a movie or play) marked by the exaggerated emotions of the characters and the importance of action and plot
b
: such works as a group
2
: melodramatic events or behavior
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