melodrama

[mel-uh-drah-muh, -dram-uh]

noun

1. a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization.

2. melodramatic behavior or events.

3. (in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries) a romantic dramatic composition with music interspersed.

melodrama

/ ˈmɛləˌdrɑːmə, ˌmɛlədrəˈmætɪk, ˌmɛləˈdræmətɪst /

noun

1. a play, film, etc, characterized by extravagant action and emotion

2. (formerly) a romantic drama characterized by sensational incident, music, and song

3. overdramatic emotion or behaviour

4. a poem or part of a play or opera spoken to a musical accompaniment

melodrama

1. A play or film in which the plot is often sensational and the characters may display exaggerated emotion.

Other Word Forms

• melodramatist noun
• minimelodrama noun
• melodramatics plural noun
• melodramatically adverb
• melodramatic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of melodrama¹

1800–10; < French mélodrame, equivalent to mélo- (< Greek mélos song) + drame drama

Word History and Origins

Origin of melodrama¹

C19: from French mélodrame, from Greek melos song + drame _drama

Example Sentences

But the battles she's fighting now are still with jealous and misguided family members and the drama - and the melodrama - of the original season remain in abundance, Ms Bajpai says.

Read more on BBC

Still, F1’s profile has rocketed in recent years thanks to the hit Netflix series “Drive to Survive,” where behind-the-scenes melodrama and sharply edited track sequences drew droves of new fans to the sport.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But melodrama is what makes The Last Dinner Party so compelling.

Read more on BBC

It's the kind of plot that was always going to attract melodrama fans.

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Increasingly dismayed, Dudek hatched a plan that seemed to embody his mix of good intentions, hubris and melodrama.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• adventure 
• buzz 
• commotion 
• confusion 
• drama 
• elation 
• emotion 
• feeling 
• frenzy 
• furor 
• fuss 
• hysteria 
• motivation 
• passion 
• rage 
• thrill 
• trepidation 
• tumult 
• turmoil 
• warmth