MELODRAMA Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

melodrama

noun

Definition of melodrama

as in comedy

Related Words

Relevance

as in sentimentality

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of melodrama Veteran actors like Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti help ground the series, but can only do so much amid the melodrama. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 Clearly influenced by Berger, Yoon develops the idea London introduced with only rough-hewn melodrama over a century before, that a precocious enough dog might offer a unique window onto human character. — Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026 As always, the ass-kickin’ melodrama begins and ends with our Mother Lioness, Zoe Saldaña’s Joe McNamara. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 2 Aug. 2026 Despite the film’s slow-cinema touches, its storytelling structure and emotionality — even though muted and quiet — recall instead the melodrama at its most facile. — Elena Lazic, Variety, 25 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for melodrama

Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodrama

Noun

Screwball comedies, dark horror flicks and so much more await in this weekend’s edition of your friendly neighborhood streaming guide.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
The comedian and actor spoke candidly about his health scare in a 2024 Netflix comedy special, What Had Happened Was.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of comedy

Noun

Only so many people on earth can afford these teams, and fewer still can stomach letting sentimentality govern a business worth billions.

— Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
In honor of the iconic series that ignited our hearts, summer romances and sentimentality for music, each character of the original film has been assigned to a zodiac sign.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sentimentality

Noun

Carys made her professional stage debut in June, playing Nina in Anton Chekhov’s tragicomedy The Seagull in Brooklyn.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
That’s what appears to be the case with Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who first met in 1992 on the set of romantic tragicomedy Jamón Jamón.

— Alessandra De Tommasi, Vanity Fair, 5 July 2026

Definition of tragicomedy

Noun

While this gentler effort is unlikely to be similarly impactful, its witty humor and genuine emotionalism recall the best of Pixar, where its director worked as a story artist on such films as Wall-E and Incredibles 2.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2025
Arpino’s interest in popular culture, athletic technique, and unapologetic emotionalism has found a new audience in the post-Balanchine world.

— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2025

Definition of emotionalism

Noun

Inspired in equal parts by Italian giallo horror flicks and American slasher flicks, the behind-the-scenes psychodrama stars Cotillard as a deathly ill scream queen shooting a sci-fi art film in Rome in 1982 who starts to go out of her mind.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
Early loves his creation, enough to spin an entire psychodrama around her, one that will bring her high and low.

— Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of psychodrama

Noun

Despite the film’s slow-cinema touches, its storytelling structure and emotionality — even though muted and quiet — recall instead the melodrama at its most facile.

— Elena Lazic, Variety, 25 July 2026
Capturing the emotionality of the moment was paramount, and an especially incredible feat, considering Pfeiffer and her scene partner had never met before shooting.

— Hilton Dresden, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026

Definition of emotionality

Browse Nearby Words

melodists

melodrama

melodramas

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“Melodrama.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodrama. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of melodrama

noun

Example Sentences

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