melodramatizing

verb

present participle of melodramatize
as in overemphasizing

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for melodramatizing
  1. overemphasizing
  2. putting on
  3. overdoing
  4. exaggerating
  5. playing up
  6. overstating
  7. sensationalizing
Verb
  • But whereas weaker seasons have relied on this feeding loop to the point of exhaustion, overemphasizing one side or the other, this time, new challenges keep emerging, giving personality quirks new angles through which to be reflected.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Paternalistic tactics, such as overemphasizing IUDs and implants, undermined young people’s reproductive health preferences and goals.
    — Riley J. Steiner, STAT, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of overemphasizing
Verb
  • The Empress is putting on her royal dress for the final time.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images Between today's issues with high inflation, elevated interest rates and increasing consumer goods costs, a lot of Americans are feeling the strain that this economic environment is putting on their budgets.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of putting on
Verb
  • One of her concerns is layering products, which can easily lead to overdoing it on the actives.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Experts say to avoid washing darks with linty fabrics, overdoing the detergent and using the heavy-duty wash cycle, among other tips.
    — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of overdoing
Verb
  • The South Korean military, which often accuses North Korea of exaggerating its military capabilities, did not immediately comment on Kim's claims.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Several attack ads on Talarico, launched by Republican political action committees, have focused on his past support for transgender youth and accused him of exaggerating his faith to garner the Christian vote.
    — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of exaggerating
Verb
  • Recognizable shapes and clean silhouettes were fashioned in calfskin, napa and suede — with python and lizard prints, mirror leather, crepe satin and mesh playing up contrasting textures.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, third wife Iya Femi (Bimbo Ademoye) is the most cunning and ruthless in trying to defend her position within the household, playing up to Iya Segi’s schemes as her most willing conspirator.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of playing up
Verb
  • As a result, one lead record can understate the number of people involved while overstating the value of a single trackable interaction.
    — David Steifman, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Experts, however, question how widespread the fraud in the program is — and whether the administration is overstating its role in the ACA’s enrollment increases.
    — Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of overstating
Verb
  • In my view, platforming these young men and sensationalizing their behaviors, rather than recognizing those behaviors as signs of psychological distress, distracts from the urgent need to address these serious mental health concerns.
    — Jordyn Tovey, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
  • For Johnson, police have to balance not sensationalizing these teen takeovers, while also not writing them off as kids being kids.
    — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Definition of sensationalizing
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.

Browse Nearby Words

melodramatizes
melodramatizing
melody
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Melodramatizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/melodramatizing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All