histrionic
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to actors or acting.
-
deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.
noun
adjective
-
excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial
histrionic gestures
-
rare dramatic
noun
-
(plural) melodramatic displays of temperament
-
rare (plural, functioning as singular) dramatics
Other Word Forms
- histrionically adverb
- nonhistrionic adjective
- nonhistrionical adjective
- nonhistrionically adverb
- nonhistrionicalness noun
- unhistrionic adjective
Etymology
Origin of histrionic
1640–50; < Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to histriōn- (stem of histriō ) actor (said to be < Etruscan ) + -icus -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.
It was malleable and oblong, perfectly complemented by a waft of boy-next-door blond locks and a brow that could convey emotion just as well as any histrionic soap dialogue.
From Salon
And the opera’s chorus and dancers took part in the Opening Ceremony held at the San Siro, home to Milan’s equally histrionic soccer teams.
Nobody knows what AI’s got in store for the economy, but less histrionic forecasts recommend themselves.
As players frequently remind themselves and us, beneath the histrionics and interpersonal drama is simple gameplay.
From Salon
Also elusive is the source of Kayleen’s growing emotional distress, which Ms. Young conveys with an admirable absence of histrionics.
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.
