adjective

histrionic

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Histrionic (adjective) means Excessively dramatic or emotional in a way that seems staged and is meant to attract attention. Example: “Her histrionic reaction to a delayed train had the whole carriage staring.”

adjective

often disapproving Excessively dramatic or emotional in a way that seems staged and is meant to attract attention.

"Her histrionic reaction to a delayed train had the whole carriage staring."

"He made a histrionic show of tearing up the contract."

formal Relating to actors, acting or the theatre.

"The company was praised for its histrionic skill rather than its choice of plays."

noun

Exaggerated dramatic behaviour designed to produce an effect on other people; usually used in the plural, histrionics.

"Spare me the histrionics and just tell me what went wrong."

How to Use Histrionic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishActing far more upset or dramatic than the situation really calls for.

When to use it

Formal to neutral in register but critical in tone; the plural noun histrionics is the most common everyday form.

Memory tip

Remember the Latin root histrio, 'actor'. If the behaviour looks like it belongs on a stage, histrionic is the word.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

hysterical → histrionics histology

Common pairings

histrionic display histrionic behaviour pure histrionics cut the histrionics

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Can you complete this real example?

Her _____ reaction to a delayed train had the whole carriage staring.

Etymology

From Latin histrionicus, from histrio meaning 'actor', so literally 'of the stage'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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theatrical melodramatic overwrought affected stagy dramatic thespian dramatics theatrics scene-making

Antonyms

restrained understated matter-of-fact

Related Words

player forward moved moving affected controlled actor exciting

Rhymes for histrionic

tonic ionic sonic ironic bionic iconic laconic Masonic chronic moronic demonic bubonic

See all rhymes for histrionic →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is calling someone histrionic an insult?

Usually, yes. In everyday use it suggests the person's emotion is performed rather than genuine, and that they are playing to an audience. The neutral theatrical sense survives mainly in formal writing about drama.

What is the difference between histrionic and hysterical?

Histrionic describes emotion that looks staged and deliberately attention-seeking, whereas hysterical describes emotion that is out of control. A histrionic person may be perfectly calm underneath; a hysterical one is not.

What is histrionic personality disorder?

It is a recognised clinical diagnosis marked by a long-standing pattern of attention-seeking, shallow but intense emotional display and a strong need for approval. The everyday adjective is far milder and carries no medical meaning.

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