First Known Use: 1648
Dictionary
histrionic
adjective his·tri·on·ic \ˌhis-trē-ˈä-nik\
: too emotional or dramatic
Full Definition of HISTRIONIC
1
: deliberately affected : theatrical
2
: of or relating to actors, acting, or the theater
— his·tri·on·i·cal·ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
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Origin of HISTRIONIC
Late Latin histrionicus, from Latin histrion-, histrio actor
Related to HISTRIONIC
- Synonyms
- dramatic, hammy, theatrical, melodramatic, stagy (or stagey)
- Antonyms
- undramatic
Synonym Discussion of HISTRIONIC
dramatic, theatrical, histrionic, melodramatic mean having a character or an effect like that of acted plays. dramatic applies to situations in life and literature that stir the imagination and emotions deeply <a dramatic meeting of world leaders>. theatrical implies a crude appeal through artificiality or exaggeration in gesture or vocal expression <a theatrical oration>. histrionic applies to tones, gestures, and motions and suggests a deliberate affectation or staginess <a histrionic show of grief>. melodramatic suggests an exaggerated emotionalism or an inappropriate theatricalism <made a melodramatic plea>.
Other Performing Arts Terms
Rhymes with HISTRIONIC
catatonic, cosmogonic, diachronic, diatonic, disharmonic, electronic, embryonic, epigonic, hegemonic, homophonic, Housatonic, hypersonic, infrasonic, inharmonic, isotonic, macaronic, megaphonic, microphonic, monophonic, monotonic, nonionic, nucleonic, pentatonic, pharaonic, philharmonic, plate-tectonic, polyphonic, quadraphonic, semitonic, skeletonic, Solomonic, supersonic, supertonic, telephonic, thermionic, ultrasonic
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