Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

theatrical

American  
[thee-a-tri-kuhl] / θiˈæ trɪ kəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the theater or dramatic presentations.

    theatrical performances.

  2. suggestive of the theater or of acting; artificial, pompous, spectacular, or extravagantly histrionic.

    a theatrical display of grief.

    Synonyms:
    extravagant, stagy, melodramatic, exaggerated

noun

  1. theatricals,

    1. dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.

    2. artificial or histrionic actions.

  2. a professional actor.

    a family of renowned theatricals.

theatrical British  
/ θɪˈætrɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances

  2. exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Speaking to the theatrical experience, Spielberg made a brief allusion to the flare-up around comments by Timothée Chalamet regarding the popularity of opera and ballet in relation to the movies.

From Los Angeles Times

The Directors Guild of America awarded him with its best theatrical feature accolade, all but securing his Oscar frontrunner status.

From Salon

Focus Features, Universal Pictures’ specialty film arm, will keep its existing theatrical exclusivity policies, which vary on a case-by-case basis.

From Los Angeles Times

There were no lead actors with visible disabilities among last year’s major theatrical releases.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Sharon’s theatrical world made space for the vastness of the emotional drama and thematic subtexts contained in Wagner’s music, and the orchestra and singers filled it with ease.

From The Wall Street Journal