noun (used with a singular or plural verb ) 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.
Origin of histrionics First recorded in
1860–65; see origin at
histrionic ,
-ics adjective Also his·tri·on·i·cal. of or relating to actors or acting.
deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.
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Origin of histrionic 1640–50; <
Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to
histriōn- (stem of
histriō ) actor (said to be <
Etruscan ) +
-icus -ic Related forms his·tri·on·i·cal·ly , adverb non·his·tri·on·ic , adjective non·his·tri·on·i·cal , adjective non·his·tri·on·i·cal·ly , adverb non·his·tri·on·i·cal·ness , noun un·his·tri·on·ic , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for histrionics Contemporary Examples of histrionics But the histrionics in that caucus are simply a prelude to an ultimate cave.
Their histrionics were more appropriate for a bad episode of Law & Order.
We say should because only you, and your histrionics , stand in the way.
The histrionics continued as he got out of the car, went into makeup and sat down to talk to Ted Koppel.
No one was surprised when McMahon had his head shaved, and no one enjoyed the histrionics any less for knowing it was inevitable.
Historical Examples of histrionics Her one art was histrionics of the kind that made an individual appeal.
Edward put off his histrionics , and rushed up to her as the consoler—a new part for him.
He would wish to know what it was supposed to be, like Nash's histrionics .
It was a feint, she thought, histrionics for the gallery, perhaps for her.
In Oratorio we have the same thing without the scenery and the histrionics .
British Dictionary definitions for histrionics adjective excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial histrionic gestures
rare dramatic
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noun (plural) melodramatic displays of temperament
rare (plural, functioning as singular) dramatics
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Derived Forms histrionically , adverb Word Origin for histrionic C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for histrionics adj. "theatrical" (figuratively, "hypocritical"), 1640s, from Latin histrionicus "pertaining to an actor," from histrio (genitive histrionis ) "actor," said to be of Etruscan origin. The literal sense in English is from 1759.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
