melodramatic
If you're writhing on the floor, howling in pain over the splinter in your finger, you're being a tad melodramatic, that is, exaggerated, affected, or histrionic.
This term was first used in early-19th-century theater, as the adjective form of the noun melodrama, which is a performance piece featuring exaggerated characters with emotional appeal. Outside the theater, melodramatic behavior is also characterized by a kind of performance or exaggeration of emotions, but it's very rarely appreciated or awarded extra points for artistic merit. The common phrase "Quit being so melodramatic!" is a terse way of pointing out to someone that they are overreacting.
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having the excitement and emotional appeal of melodrama“a melodramatic account of two perilous days at sea”synonyms:dramaticsuitable to or characteristic of drama
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characteristic of acting or a stage performance; often affected“an attitude of melodramatic despair”synonyms: histrionictheatricalsuited to or characteristic of the stage or theater
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Vocabulary lists containing melodramatic
On the ACT Reading Test, you will almost certainly encounter questions that ask about an author's tone — that is, the author's attitude toward their subject matter. Master our comprehensive collection of common words used to describe an author's tone, and you'll be well prepared to tackle these questions.
Questions on the GED Reasoning Through Language Arts Test will ask you to identify an author's tone, purpose, or point of view. Practice these lists to familiarize yourself with common words used to describe an author's attitude or perspective.