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
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.
Canada is already into the last 16 after Sunday’s dramatic 1-0 win over South Africa.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
Jacobs-Jenkins has recognized perhaps more acutely than any of his peers the way dramatic forms have locked us into set scripts about our lives.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026
In patients with MS, however, these cells can undergo dramatic changes.
From Science Daily • Jun. 29, 2026
That hawkish stance has had a dramatic impact, says Brian Griggs, head of the portfolio strategy group at Nuveen.
From Barron's • Jun. 29, 2026
"They're packing and shipping Tater?" says Duke with a dramatic whip of his head.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
