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
Spiritually descended from shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Teen Wolf adds the right amount of melodrama and humor to its silly premise.
—
Leila Jordan, EW.com, 27 July 2024
The shadowy promise of deep melodrama paired with that high-contrast visual melancholy that’s ideal for the moralistic extremes of the 1940s is timelessly alluring.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 July 2024
Movies like The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, and four Airport movies ( which Airplane! specifically parodies, along with a 1957 film called Zero Hour) gathered all-star casts of characters with their own melodrama and threw them into a special effects ringer.
—James Grebey, TIME, 19 July 2024
Pearl was a prequel to X, and had the feel of a Douglas Sirk melodrama, focusing on a woman’s insatiable desire for fame and stardom.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for melodrama 
Leila Jordan, EW.com, 27 July 2024
The shadowy promise of deep melodrama paired with that high-contrast visual melancholy that’s ideal for the moralistic extremes of the 1940s is timelessly alluring.
—Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 26 July 2024
Movies like The Towering Inferno, The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake, and four Airport movies ( which Airplane! specifically parodies, along with a 1957 film called Zero Hour) gathered all-star casts of characters with their own melodrama and threw them into a special effects ringer.
—James Grebey, TIME, 19 July 2024
Pearl was a prequel to X, and had the feel of a Douglas Sirk melodrama, focusing on a woman’s insatiable desire for fame and stardom.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for melodrama
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'melodrama.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near melodrama
Cite this Entry
“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/melodrama. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.
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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