1-Stop Dictionary Reference

Melodrama

Acceptable For Game Play - US & UK word lists

This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

n. A drama, such as a play, film, or television program, characterized by exaggerated emotions, stereotypical characters, and interpersonal conflicts.

n. The dramatic genre characterized by this treatment.

n. Behavior or occurrences having melodramatic characteristics.

Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

n. (uncountable) A kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes.

n. A drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks; as, the melodrama in the grave digging scene of Beethoven's "Fidelio".

n. Any situation or action which is blown out of proportion.

the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English

n. Formerly, a kind of drama having a musical accompaniment to intensify the effect of certain scenes. Now, a drama abounding in romantic sentiment and agonizing situations, with a musical accompaniment only in parts which are especially thrilling or pathetic. In opera, a passage in which the orchestra plays a somewhat descriptive accompaniment, while the actor speaks.

The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

n. Properly, a dramatic composition in which music is used, or an opera in the broad sense.

n. A drama with incidental music, or an operetta with more or less spoken dialogue; a piece in which speech and song (or instrumental music) alternate. Also melodram.

n. A form of the drama characterized by compositions in which the music is of but moderate importance or value, and the plot and scenes are of a decidedly romantic and sensational nature.

WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

n. an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization

Word Usage

"Inevitably, his materials are those of what we call melodrama; he is at one, in the bare substance of his tales, with the manufacturers of the baldest shockers."

Hypernym

Words that are more generic or abstract

comedy

Form

melodramatic melodramatics melodramatize melodramatist

Same Context

Words that are found in similar contexts

farce pantomime opera drama comedy