histrionics

[ his-tree-on-iks ]

/ ˌhɪs triˈɒn ɪks /

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See synonyms for histrionics on Thesaurus.com

Definition of histrionics

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.

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of histrionics

First recorded in 1860–65; see origin at histrionic, -ics

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH histrionics

hysterics, histrionics

Words nearby histrionics

histotoxic anoxia, histotrophic, histotropic, histrionic, histrionic personality disorder, histrionics, hit, Hitachi, hit-and-miss, hit-and-run, hit a snag

How to use histrionics in a sentence

But the histrionics in that caucus are simply a prelude to an ultimate cave.
A Debt Deal Won’t Save Us|Daniel Gross|October 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Their histrionics were more appropriate for a bad episode of Law & Order.
Trayvon Was Black. It Matters.|Mark Geragos|July 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Such a slow set-up was typical: no crash-bang corpse-on-first-page histrionics.
True Grit: Ross Macdonald Gets His Due|Malcolm Forbes|August 7, 2012|DAILY BEAST
We say should because only you, and your histrionics, stand in the way.
The Stars Predict Your Week|Starsky + Cox|October 9, 2011|DAILY BEAST

The histrionics continued as he got out of the car, went into makeup and sat down to talk to Ted Koppel.
An American in Full|Jonathan Alter|December 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He would wish to know what it was supposed to be, like Nash's histrionics.
The Tragic Muse|Henry James
Mary continued without giving much attention to these histrionics.
Within the Law|Marvin Dana
At such times she astonished him by taking his most solemn histrionics with flippant incredulity, and even burlesquing them.
The March Family Trilogy, Complete|William Dean Howells
He saw the humour of the comedy he was acting, and dispassionately approved himself, because he did not give way to histrionics.
The Hero|William Somerset Maugham
Are you about to turn actor, and do you trust to her for instruction in histrionics?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 62, No. 384, October 1847|Various