histrionics
Americannoun
-
dramatic representation; theatricals; acting.
-
behavior or speech for effect, as insincere or exaggerated expression of an emotion; dramatics; operatics.
Cut out the histrionics—we know you're not really mad.
Etymology
Origin of histrionics
First recorded in 1860–65; see origin at histrionic, -ics
Explanation
Histrionics are dramatic, overdone, emotional actions and words that are done to influence someone. It’s like putting on a little show to get attention. Histrionics originally referred to acting in a play, and it still conveys a sense of pretending. If someone is going through histrionics, they're acting outlandish, usually to get sympathy or influence someone. Exaggerated crying, unnecessary yelling, and overdone gestures are all examples of histrionics. Unlike real emotional reactions, histrionics are fake and intended to manipulate others.
Vocabulary lists containing histrionics
Americanah
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Atonement
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The Faithful Spy
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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.
Purely as entertainment, it is inert; the story, about a family in mourning, features histrionics worthy of grand opera and a level of rudeness that could peel paint.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
Winger Vinicius showed his frustration with his coach publicly during the Clasico, substituted and storming off in a fit of histrionics.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2025
No, this season is not about histrionics, it’s about history.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2025
It is unlikely the Manchester Central Auditorium - which usually caters for corporate events - has seen such histrionics.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2025
Is it too much to hope that even at this late state he will regain his balance and fulfill his obligation to the chess world by trying to play Spassky without histrionics?
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
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.
