definitions

theatrical

[ thee-a-tri-kuhl ]
/ θiˈæ trɪ kəl /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR theatrical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective Also the·at·ric.

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.

noun

theatricals,
  1. dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.
  2. artificial or histrionic actions.
a professional actor: a family of renowned theatricals.

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RELATED WORDS

histrionics, acting, exhibitionism, stagecraft, theatrics

Nearby words

theatine, theatre, theatre of cruelty, theatre of the absurd, theatre-in-the-round, theatrical, theatrical film, theatricalism, theatricalize, theatricals, theatricism

Origin of theatrical

1550–60; < Late Latin theātric(us) < Greek theātrikós, equivalent to theā́tr(on) theater + -ikos -ic + -al1

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for theatricality

British Dictionary definitions for theatricality

theatrical

/ (θɪˈætrɪkəl) /

adjective

of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances
exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic

Derived Forms

theatricality or theatricalness, nountheatrically, adverb
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