Chekhovian

[ che-koh-vee-uhn, -kaw-fee-, -kof-ee-; chek-aw-fee-uhn, -of-ee- ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Anton Chekhov or his writings, especially as they are evocative of a mood of introspection and frustration.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Chekhovian¹

First recorded in 1920–25; Chekhov + -ian

Example Sentences

No one is holding a vehicle like “Joan” to Chekhovian standards.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a long work, nearly three hours, written in the Chekhovian realistic tradition and crammed with novelistic details that can’t be fully assimilated in one sitting.

From Los Angeles Times

“Heartbreak House: A Fantasia in the Russian Manner on English Themes,” an argumentative state-of-the-nation play with eccentrically drawn characters of Chekhovian complexity, represents the pinnacle of the playwright’s achievement in this genre.

From Los Angeles Times

Ceylan, who co-wrote the script, has a Chekhovian fascination with protagonists weighed down by fate.

From Los Angeles Times

The play opts instead for a Chekhovian wistfulness.

From Los Angeles Times