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
Explanation
Dramatic means having to do with a play, as in “a dramatic production.” It also means striking or exaggerated. Half an hour of exercise a day can have a dramatic effect on your physical well being. If you burst into tears when you get a B on a paper and wail, “Now I’m never going to get into college,” you can be accused of being dramatic, which means you’re acting out your reaction, or overly dramatic, which means your reaction is over the top.
Vocabulary lists containing dramatic
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Steve Jobs's Commencement Address (2005)
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Speech and Debate
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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.
“This is not a dramatic shakeup of the airline industry.”
From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026
Members of the press took advantage of the chance to create what some would argue was an overly dramatic story.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
“And nothing super dramatic happens. It’s a simple story about a young woman finding her place in the world. And that’s really close to life.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
The research shows that while tectonic forces slowly pushed the rock layers upward over millions of years, the dramatic pillars visible today formed much more recently.
From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2026
He let out a little huff, but then waved his paw in a very dramatic gesture.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
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.
