histrionic

[ his-tree-on-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to actors or acting.
2. deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.

noun

1. an actor.

histrionic

/ ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk /

adjective

1. excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial

   histrionic gestures

2. rare.
   dramatic

noun

1. plural melodramatic displays of temperament
2. rare.
   plural, functioning as singular dramatics

Derived Forms

• ˌhistriˈonically, adverb

Other Words From

• histri·oni·cal·ly adverb
• nonhis·tri·onic adjective
• nonhis·tri·oni·cal adjective
• nonhis·tri·oni·cal·ly adverb
• nonhis·tri·oni·cal·ness noun
• unhis·tri·onic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of histrionic¹

1640–50; < Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to histriōn- (stem of histriō ) actor (said to be < Etruscan ) + -icus -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of histrionic¹

C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor

Example Sentences

“I think because I’m always dealing with ambiguous emotions, I’ve always been afraid of music tipping the balance in one direction or being too histrionic or too sentimental.”

From Los Angeles Times

But for the song to work its magic in the musical, Albin’s interior life must poke through the makeup, dresses and temperamental diva histrionics.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s sure to come without the histrionics of the last election—though violence is prevalent in the United States, and I discount nothing at this point.

From Salon

Kavanaugh histrionically denied them, saying at one point that they were concocted as “revenge on behalf of the Clintons.”

From Los Angeles Times

Without the distracting histrionics of the blustering Republican nominee, the Vance-Walz face-off could prove more substantive than the two presidential debates that took place this summer.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flamboyant
• frenzied
• histrionical
• maudlin
• mawkish
• overemotional
• overwrought
• sensational
• sentimental
• stagy