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.
U.S. stocks staged a dramatic rebound to kick off the first full trading week of the new year, just in time to rescue the so-called Santa Claus rally from going missing for another year.
From MarketWatch
The most dramatic vertical movement was observed directly beneath the lake.
From Science Daily
"She'd be in the front room pounding Beethoven or some dramatic score with the door locked. I do have turbulent feelings when I go to concerts and hear that sort of music."
From BBC
But the dramatic pull-back in vaccine guidance could have significant impacts on vaccine uptake levels, which are already low.
From Barron's
More than 70% of kicks over 50 yards are successful these days, a dramatic increase in accuracy from only five years ago.
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.