dramatic
adjective
dra·mat·ic
drə-ˈma-tik
1
literature
: of or relating to drama
a dramatic actor
… has earned three Oscar nominations for his dramatic roles …—Nellie Andreeva
… offers an outstanding vocal and dramatic performance …—Alison Norton
2
a
: suitable to or characteristic of drama (as in being very exciting or moving)
a dramatic story
a dramatic attempt to escape
a dramatic comeback
b
: sudden and extreme
a dramatic increase/decrease in sales
a dramatic improvement
The changes have had a dramatic impact.
c
: striking in appearance or effect
The speaker made a dramatic pause before the big announcement.
… made a dramatic entrance … in a larger-than-life princess ballgown that encompassed the red carpet.—Alyssa Morin
d
: having or showing a tendency to behave or react in an exaggerated way
a dramatic sigh
'This is the most beautiful place in the world,' I gasped. 'You're so dramatic, Jessica,' he said, laughing.—Jessica Fox
I started to think, "What if people aren't interested in me, or us, by the end of this pandemic? What am I going to do for the rest of my life?" I don't know why I thought like that. Now that I think about it, I'm so dramatic.—Roseanne Chaeyoung Park
3
of an opera singer
: having a powerful voice and a declamatory style compare lyric
Cite this Entry
“Dramatic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dramatic. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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