dramatic

[druh-mat-ik]

See more synonyms for dramatic on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to the drama.
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.

Origin of dramatic

1580–90; < Late Latin drāmaticus < Greek drāmatikós, equivalent to drāmat- (stem of drâma) drama + -ikos -ic

Related formsdra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·dra·mat·ic, adjectivenon·dra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbo·ver·dra·mat·ic, adjectiveo·ver·dra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbpre·dra·mat·ic, adjectivepseu·do·dra·mat·ic, adjectivepseu·do·dra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbqua·si-dra·mat·ic, adjectivequa·si-dra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbsem·i·dra·mat·ic, adjectivesem·i·dra·mat·i·cal·ly, adverbun·dra·mat·ic, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. theatrical. 4. startling, sensational.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for dramatic

Contemporary Examples

In the end, I find it never fails to modernize even the most dramatic things.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist
Judnick Mayard
January 8, 2015
It opens with Huckabee's dramatic recollection of going through security at the airport.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!
Olivia Nuzzi
January 8, 2015
In a dramatic twist on mistletoe reproduction, their seeds explode, literally.
Mistletoe is the Vampire of Plants
Helen Thompson
December 21, 2014
Yet even as the Germans wallowed in bitter self-pity, another defeated superpower underwent a dramatic turnaround.
The 20th-Century Dictator Most Idolized by Hitler
William O’Connor
November 24, 2014
But these dramatic increases in spending and teachers have not yielded a notable change in overall student outcomes.
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor
Veronique de Rugy
November 23, 2014

Historical Examples

The circumstances were painful, but added a dramatic touch to the scene.
The Grand Old Man
Richard B. Cook
But his methods are not possessed in the main of dramatic respectability.
The Dramatic Values in Plautus
Wilton Wallace Blancke
The drama was cultivated by the Incas, and dramatic performances were enacted before them.
Apu Ollantay
Anonymous
The laws of the time gave no protection to musical and dramatic copyright.
Handel
Edward J. Dent
As if in dramatic accord with his words, the bells jangled loudly at the gate.
Tiverton Tales
Alice Brown

British Dictionary definitions for dramatic

dramatic

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

Derived Formsdramatically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for dramatic

adj.

1580s, from Late Latin dramaticus, from Greek dramatikos "pertaining to plays," from drama (genitive dramatos; see drama). Meaning "full of action and striking display, fit for a drama" is from 1725. Dramatic irony is recorded from 1907. Related: Dramatical; dramatically.

dramatic

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}dramatic

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for dramatic

Contemporary Examples

In the end, I find it never fails to modernize even the most dramatic things.

It opens with Huckabee's dramatic recollection of going through security at the airport.

In a dramatic twist on mistletoe reproduction, their seeds explode, literally.

Yet even as the Germans wallowed in bitter self-pity, another defeated superpower underwent a dramatic turnaround.

But these dramatic increases in spending and teachers have not yielded a notable change in overall student outcomes.

Historical Examples

The circumstances were painful, but added a dramatic touch to the scene.

But his methods are not possessed in the main of dramatic respectability.

The drama was cultivated by the Incas, and dramatic performances were enacted before them.

The laws of the time gave no protection to musical and dramatic copyright.

As if in dramatic accord with his words, the bells jangled loudly at the gate.

dramatic

Word Origin and History for dramatic

adj.

Origin of dramatic