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Definition of melodrama

melodrama

/ˈmɛləˌdrɑːmə/
mel · o · dra · ma
Adverb:melodramatically
•
Plural:melodramas
•
Adjective:melodramatic
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melodrama Lexical Profile

melodrama Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Behavior, language, or a situation in real life that is overly emotional, exaggerated, and dramatic.

Example

"She handled the disagreement calmly, refusing to be drawn into her colleague's unnecessary melodrama."

2

A sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions, historically accompanied by orchestral music.

Example

"The nineteenth-century theater was famous for staging Victorian melodramas featuring virtuous heroines and scheming villains."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for melodrama
Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

melodious
melodiously
melodiousness
melodrama
melodramatic
melodramatically
melodramatics

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 19th century from French mélodrame, combining Ancient Greek melos ('song') and French drame ('drama'), originally denoting a stage play interspersed with songs and orchestral music.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Melodrama. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/melodrama
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