noun
melodrama
MEH-luh-drah-muh
Melodrama (noun) means a play or story full of exaggerated emotion, dramatic plot twists, and sharply drawn heroes and villains. Example: “The film was pure melodrama, complete with a tearful deathbed confession.”
noun
1
A play or story full of exaggerated emotion, dramatic plot twists, and sharply drawn heroes and villains.
"The film was pure melodrama, complete with a tearful deathbed confession."
2
Behaviour or a situation that is far more emotional or dramatic than the circumstances really call for.
"He turned a minor delay into a full melodrama."
How to use melodrama
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExaggerated drama with strong emotions and clear-cut heroes and villains — or, informally, an overreaction to something small.
Common pairings
pure melodrama
a bit of melodrama
unnecessary melodrama
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Word forms
- Plural
- melodramas, melodramata
Fill the gap
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The film was pure _____, complete with a tearful deathbed confession.
Etymology
From French mélodrame, ultimately from Greek melos ("song") plus drama — originally a stage drama with musical accompaniment at emotional moments.
Rhymes for melodrama
See all rhymes for melodrama →Frequently asked questions
What does “melodrama” mean?
The word “melodrama” means a play or story full of exaggerated emotion, dramatic plot twists, and sharply drawn heroes and villains. In plain terms, exaggerated drama with strong emotions and clear-cut heroes and villains — or, informally, an overreaction to something small.
How do you pronounce “melodrama”?
“Melodrama” is pronounced MEH-luh-drah-muh (/ˈmɛləˌdɹɑːmə/ in IPA).
How do you use “melodrama” in a sentence?
Here is “melodrama” used in a sentence: “The film was pure melodrama, complete with a tearful deathbed confession.”
What part of speech is “melodrama”?
“Melodrama” is a noun.
Where does the word “melodrama” come from?
The word “melodrama” comes from French. From French mélodrame, ultimately from Greek melos ("song") plus drama — originally a stage drama with musical accompaniment at emotional moments.
How many meanings does “melodrama” have?
“Melodrama” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a play or story full of exaggerated emotion, dramatic plot twists, and sharply drawn heroes and villains.
