Synonym Chooser

How is the word histrionic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of histrionic are dramatic, melodramatic, and theatrical. While all these words mean "having a character or an effect like that of acted plays," histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess.

a histrionic show of grief

When could dramatic be used to replace histrionic?

The synonyms dramatic and histrionic are sometimes interchangeable, but dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply.

a dramatic meeting of world leaders

Where would melodramatic be a reasonable alternative to histrionic?

In some situations, the words melodramatic and histrionic are roughly equivalent. However, melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism.

made a melodramatic plea

When is it sensible to use theatrical instead of histrionic?

The meanings of theatrical and histrionic largely overlap; however, theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression.

a theatrical oration

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 histrionic As a piece of political rhetoric, the word has become numbingly histrionic. Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025 This may sound like the setup for a histrionic sci-fi soap opera. Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025 Where so much of onscreen storytelling at the time was steeped in histrionic levels of sincerity and reverence for American institutions, Hill’s film had no interest in promoting the status quo or hiding whatever rottenness is present in this country’s criminal-justice system. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024 This is histrionic and fun and has a nice ending with Michael Longfellow. EW.com, 8 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for histrionic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for histrionic
Adjective
  • Previously, Knives Out movies have done the festival rounds ahead of their theatrical/Netflix stint.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 May 2025
  • Mubi is set to expand its theatrical operations in Italy as Efe Cakarel, CEO of the global streamer, producer and film distributor, recently anticipated in an interview for a Variety cover story.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Sirens’s ending is a solid reminder that, sometimes, the most dramatic stories can also be the most realistic.
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 23 May 2025
  • Lowenstein examines how excessive leverage, overconfidence in mathematical models, and market forces beyond the fund's control led to one of the most dramatic financial failures in modern history.
    Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Abel Tesfaye, the singer-songwriter otherwise known as the Weeknd, literally and figuratively sets his old persona on fire in Hurry Up Tomorrow, the companion film to his somber and operatic sixth studio album of the same name.
    Jessica Wang, EW.com, 16 May 2025
  • As is so often true in operatic productions of recent decades, the default relevance setting is the era of European fascism of nearly a century ago.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 13 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Histrionic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/histrionic. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on histrionic

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