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

Suede’s sense of Britishness, however, was less a matter of manifesto than of instinct, driven by the desire to render small lives and intimate details in sweeping, romantic, even histrionic gestures.

From Los Angeles Times

But with Sandler’s less histrionic roles, expectations had to be left at the door.

From Salon

No, this season is not about histrionics, it’s about history.

From Los Angeles Times

It is unlikely the Manchester Central Auditorium - which usually caters for corporate events - has seen such histrionics.

From BBC

McCarthy's odious behavior ultimately led to his censure by the Senate and the beginning of the end to his destructive clown-show histrionics.

From Salon

Related Words

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