dramatic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to the drama.
- Synonyms:
- theatrical
-
employing the form or manner of the drama.
-
characteristic of or appropriate to the drama, especially in involving conflict or contrast; vivid; moving.
dramatic colors;
a dramatic speech.
-
highly effective; striking.
The silence following his impassioned speech was dramatic.
- Synonyms:
- sensational, startling
adjective
-
of or relating to drama
-
like a drama in suddenness, emotional impact, etc
-
striking; effective
-
acting or performed in a flamboyant way
-
music (of a voice) powerful and marked by histrionic quality
Other Word Forms
- dramatically adverb
- nondramatic adjective
- overdramatic adjective
- predramatic adjective
- pseudodramatic adjective
- quasi-dramatic adjective
- semidramatic adjective
- undramatic adjective
Etymology
Origin of dramatic
First recorded in 1580–90; from Late Latin drāmaticus, from Greek drāmatikós, equivalent to drāmat- (stem of drâma ) drama + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."
From BBC
Growth this year has been buffeted by dramatic changes to trade and immigration policies, as well as cuts to government spending.
From BBC
It’s hardly training, but we tried to condition our bodies to make sure they would be able to take the dramatic altitude climb and the cold temperatures.
From Los Angeles Times
For this shoot, I chose dramatic lighting to reflect the suspenseful tone of the film.
From Los Angeles Times
The third season of Hulu’s “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” which follows Utah-based social media influencers with varying degrees of faith, was not short on dramatic moments.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
