theatrical

[ thee-a-tri-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the theater or dramatic presentations:

   theatrical performances.

2. suggestive of the theater or of acting; artificial, pompous, spectacular, or extravagantly histrionic:

   a theatrical display of grief.

   Synonyms: extravagant, stagy, melodramatic, exaggerated

noun

1. theatricals,
   1. dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.
   2. artificial or histrionic actions.
2. a professional actor:

   a family of renowned theatricals.

theatrical

/ θɪˈætrɪkəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances
2. exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic

Derived Forms

• theˈatrically, adverb
• theˌatriˈcality, noun

Other Words From

• the·at·ri·cal·i·ty [thee-a-tri-, kal, -i-tee], the·atri·cal·ness noun
• the·atri·cal·ly adverb
• half-the·atri·cal adjective
• nonthe·atric adjective
• nonthe·atri·cal adjective
• nonthe·atri·cal·ly adverb
• over·the·atri·cal adjective
• over·the·atri·cal·ly adverb
• over·the·atri·cal·ness noun
• quasi-the·atri·cal adjective
• quasi-the·atri·cal·ly adverb
• semi·the·atric adjective
• semi·the·atri·cal adjective
• semi·the·atri·cal·ly adverb
• unthe·atric adjective
• unthe·atri·cal adjective
• unthe·atri·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of theatrical¹

1550–60; < Late Latin theātric ( us ) < Greek theātrikós, equivalent to theā́tr ( on ) theater + -ikos -ic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

“Emilia Pérez” can be exasperating at times, overstuffed and self-consciously theatrical.

From Los Angeles Times

It swings from one extreme to another, matching Coppola’s grandiose gestures toward futurism, ancient history, symbolism, theatrical performance — and, at the heart of it all, love.

From Los Angeles Times

The studio and filmmakers had agreed to reconsider the option to first release the film in a limited theatrical run once the studio had screened the film, the spokesperson said.

From Los Angeles Times

HEX needed no staging to produce a highly theatrical performance.

From Los Angeles Times

It said the sequences were "no longer within our standards at U" despite upholding the initial rating for video and theatrical releases in 1987 and 2008.

From BBC

Related Words

• campy
• comic
• exaggerated
• melodramatic
• operatic
• showy