histrionics

See also: histriònics

English

WOTD – 11 October 2010

Etymology

From histrionic +‎ -ics, see histrionic.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /hɪstɹiˈɒnɪks/
• (US) enPR: hĭs-trē-änʹĭks, IPA^(key): /hɪstɹiˈɑnɪks/

• Audio (Northern California):

  (file)

• Audio (General Australian):

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• Rhymes: -ɒnɪks

Noun

histrionics pl (plural only)

1. Exaggerated, overemotional behaviour, especially when calculated to elicit a response; melodramatics.

   I’m tired of Mary’s histrionics.

   • 1999 August 26, Buddy Seigal, “Even Old Englishmen Still Get Wood”, in OC Weekly, retrieved 16 June 2009:

     Dexter's vocals are competent enough: his timbre is thin and eternally teenaged, but he can go apeshit on the hiccupy histrionics like no one's business.

Usage notes

• Do not confuse histrionics with hysterics.

Synonyms

• (exaggerated behaviour): drama, melodrama, melodramatics

Hyponyms

• testrionics

Translations

exaggerated, overemotional behaviour

• Catalan: histrionisme m
• Finnish: tunteilu (fi), huomionkipeys
• French: histrionisme (fr), théâtralisme (fr)
• German: theatralisches Getue n
• Polish: afektacja (pl) f, egzaltacja (pl) f
• Russian: вы́ходка (ru) f (výxodka), сце́на (ru) f (scéna)
• Spanish: histrionismo m, teatralismo

See also

• histrionic

Anagrams

• trichinosis