MELODRAMATIC

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does melodramatic mean? 

• MELODRAMATIC (adjective)
  The adjective MELODRAMATIC has 2 senses:

1. having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama

2. characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected

  Familiarity information: MELODRAMATIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MELODRAMATIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama

Context example:

a melodramatic account of two perilous days at sea

Similar:

dramatic (suitable to or characteristic of drama)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected

Synonyms:

histrionic; melodramatic

Context example:

a theatrical pose

Similar:

theatrical (suited to or characteristic of the stage or theater)

Derivation:

melodrama (an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization)

 Context examples 

There must have been a touch of the melodramatic in my pose and voice, for Maud smiled.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"More cruel than ever. Don't you see how I'm pining away?" and Laurie gave his broad chest a sounding slap and heaved a melodramatic sigh.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You can't stay here, so what's the use of being melodramatic?

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Do it this way. Clasp your hands so, and stagger across the room, crying frantically, 'Roderigo! Save me! Save me!'" and away went Jo, with a melodramatic scream which was truly thrilling.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

"Silence a la mort," replied Laurie, with a melodramatic flourish, as he went away.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

He had no thought of a melodramatic plunge, but some blind instinct led him to fling hat and coat into his boat, and row away with all his might, making better time up the river than he had done in any race.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Laurie went by in the afternoon, and seeing Meg at the window, seemed suddenly possessed with a melodramatic fit, for he fell down on one knee in the snow, beat his breast, tore his hair, and clasped his hands imploringly, as if begging some boon.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

It was a pictorial sheet, and Jo examined the work of art nearest her, idly wondering what fortuitous concatenation of circumstances needed the melodramatic illustration of an Indian in full war costume, tumbling over a precipice with a wolf at his throat, while two infuriated young gentlemen, with unnaturally small feet and big eyes, were stabbing each other close by, and a disheveled female was flying away in the background with her mouth wide open.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)