histrionic

[his-tree-on-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to actors or acting.

2. deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.

noun

1. an actor.

histrionic

/ ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk /

adjective

1. excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial

   histrionic gestures

2. rare,  dramatic

noun

1. (plural) melodramatic displays of temperament

2. rare,  (plural, functioning as singular) dramatics

Other Word Forms

• histrionically adverb
• nonhistrionic adjective
• nonhistrionical adjective
• nonhistrionically adverb
• nonhistrionicalness noun
• unhistrionic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of histrionic¹

1640–50; < Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to histriōn- (stem of histriō ) actor (said to be < Etruscan ) + -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of histrionic¹

C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor

Example Sentences

Worrying about rate cuts seems histrionic, and arguably irrelevant, since corporate earnings are strong.

Read more on Barron's

Worrying about rate cuts seems histrionic, and arguably irrelevant, since corporate earnings are strong.

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It’s hard to believe now, but Cheney was once the sort of Republican the Washington establishment loved—smart, thoughtful, conservative but not histrionic about it, a man of Wyoming via Wisconsin.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This morning, some in Labour think this is a histrionic overreaction from Kemi Badenoch's party, which would significantly lower the bar for ministerial sackings.

Read more on BBC

Bondi probably wowed him with her snotty tone and histrionics, even as her wit left much to be desired.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• flamboyant 
• frenzied 
• histrionical www.thesaurus.com
• maudlin 
• mawkish 
• overemotional www.thesaurus.com
• overwrought 
• sensational 
• sentimental 
• stagy