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Definition of melodramatically

melodramatically

/ˌmɛlədrəˈmætɪkəli/
mel · o · dra · mat · i · cal · ly
Adjective:melodramatic
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melodramatically Lexical Profile

• adverb

1

In a manner that is exaggerated, overly emotional, or sensationalized beyond what is appropriate for the situation.

Example

"He sighed melodramatically and slumped into his chair when asked to finish his homework before dinner."

2

In a manner characteristic of or relating to theatrical melodrama, featuring stock characters, sensational plot twists, and stark moral contrasts.

Example

"The nineteenth-century novel is structured melodramatically, pitting a purely virtuous heroine against a scheming villain."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for melodramatically

• Nearby Words

melodiousness
melodrama
melodramatic
melodramatically
melodramatics
melody
melon

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the early 19th century from the adjective 'melodramatic', which derives from the French 'mélodrame', combining Ancient Greek 'melos' (song) and 'drama' (action, play).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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