theatrical
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the theater or dramatic presentations.
theatrical performances.
-
suggestive of the theater or of acting; artificial, pompous, spectacular, or extravagantly histrionic.
a theatrical display of grief.
- Synonyms:
- extravagant, stagy, melodramatic, exaggerated
noun
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theatricals,
-
dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.
-
artificial or histrionic actions.
-
-
a professional actor.
a family of renowned theatricals.
adjective
-
of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances
-
exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic
Other Word Forms
- half-theatrical adjective
- nontheatric adjective
- nontheatrical adjective
- nontheatrically adverb
- overtheatrical adjective
- overtheatrically adverb
- overtheatricalness noun
- quasi-theatrical adjective
- quasi-theatrically adverb
- semitheatric adjective
- semitheatrical adjective
- semitheatrically adverb
- theatricality noun
- theatrically adverb
- theatricalness noun
- untheatric adjective
- untheatrical adjective
- untheatrically adverb
Etymology
Origin of theatrical
1550–60; < Late Latin theātric ( us ) < Greek theātrikós, equivalent to theā́tr ( on ) theater + -ikos -ic + -al 1
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.
But Gustav’s hair raises when the journalist asks him whether the film will have a theatrical release, given Netflix’s disdain for the classic cinematic experience.
From Salon
There were a few bills tucked inside as well, so I decided to add my own theatrical flourish.
From Literature
That potential outcome “raises concerns about a potential reduction in theatrical output and overall content volume as the remaining players streamline operations and prioritize efficiency,” they say.
As a theatrical experience, however, “Weapons” couldn’t be beat.
From Salon
Why you should let it fade: Nostalgia proved to be a dastardly curse with “Little Fockers,” a theatrical experience memorable only for how dry and tiresome its comic beats were.
From Salon
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.
