adj · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˌmɛl.ə.dɹəˈmæt.ɪk/
UK:/ˌmɛl.əʊ.dɹəˈmæt.ɪk/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:M EH2 L AH0 D R AH0 M AE1 T IH0 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of or pertaining to melodrama; like or suitable to a melodrama; unnatural in situation or action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Exaggeratedly emotional or sentimental.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
She wrote him a melodramatic letter, threatening to kill herself.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a melodramatic account of two perilous days at sea
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adjective satellite
Meaning 4
characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
histrionic gestures
an attitude of melodramatic despair
a theatrical pose
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: histrionic
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From melodrama + -tic. Modelled after dramatic.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
melodramàtic
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Czech:
melodramatický
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Finnish:
melodramaattinen
— of or pertaining to melodrama
French:
mélodramatique
— of or pertaining to melodrama
German:
melodramatisch
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Greek:
μελοδραματικός
(melodramatikós)
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Italian:
melodrammatico
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Portuguese:
melodramático
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Romanian:
melodramatic
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Russian:
мелодрамати́ческий
(melodramatíčeskij)
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Spanish:
melodramático
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Swedish:
melodramatisk
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Tagalog:
mahimigdula
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Telugu:
ఏడుపుగొట్టు
(ēḍupugoṭṭu)
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Turkish:
melodramatik
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Welsh:
melodramatig
— of or pertaining to melodrama
Welsh:
melodramataidd
— of or pertaining to melodrama
