If you refer to someone's behaviour as histrionic, you are critical of it because it is very dramatic, exaggerated, and insincere.
[disapproval]
Dorothea let out a histrionic groan.
Synonyms: theatrical, affected, dramatic, forced More Synonyms of histrionic
More Synonyms of histrionic
histrionic in British English
(ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk) or histrionical
adjective
1.
excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial
histrionic gestures
2. rare
dramatic
noun
3. (plural)
melodramatic displays of temperament
4. rare(plural, functioning as singular)
dramatics
Derived forms
histrionically (ˌhistriˈonically)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor
histrionic in American English
(ˌhɪstriˈɑnɪk)
adjective
1.
of, or having the nature of, acting or actors
2.
overacted or overacting; theatrical; artificial; affected
Derived forms
histrionically (ˌhistriˈonically)
adverb
Word origin
LL histrionicus < L histrio, actor; ult. of Etr orig.
Examples of 'histrionic' in a sentence
histrionic
The complete lack of shops brought on a histrionic fit of hunger in my boyfriend.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Some were histrionic tragic performances dripping with sensibility.
Paula Byrne PERDITA: The Life of Mary Robinson (2004)
The Cure is a more histrionic but less successful work.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Given the current financial circumstances, the likelihood of the government coming up with a hundred million for a pair of histrionic fit birds is unlikely.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
(adjective)
Definition
very dramatic and full of exaggerated emotion
Dorothea let out a histrionic groan.
Synonyms
theatrical
In a theatrical gesture he clamped his hand over his eyes.
affected
She passed by with an affected air and a disdainful look.
dramatic
She lifted her hands in a dramatic gesture.
forced
a forced smile
camp (informal)
All the characters are either too camp or too dull.
actorly
artificial
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
unnatural
She gave him a bright, determined smile which seemed unnatural.
melodramatic
She flung herself in a pose of melodramatic exhaustion.
actressy
(plural noun)
Definition
behaviour of this kind
When I explained everything, there were no histrionics.
Synonyms
dramatics
scene
tantrums
performance
temperament
theatricality
staginess
hissy fit (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affected
Definition
pretended
She passed by with an affected air and a disdainful look.
Synonyms
pretended,
artificial,
contrived,
put-on,
assumed,
mannered,
studied,
precious,
stiff,
simulated,
mincing,
sham,
unnatural,
pompous,
pretentious,
counterfeit,
feigned,
spurious,
conceited,
insincere,
camp (informal),
la-di-da (informal),
arty-farty (informal),
phoney or phony (informal)
in the sense of artificial
Definition
not sincere
The voice was affected, the accent artificial.
Synonyms
insincere,
forced,
affected,
assumed,
phoney or phony (informal),
put on,
false,
pretended,
hollow,
contrived,
unnatural,
feigned,
spurious,
meretricious
in the sense of camp
Definition
consciously artificial, vulgar, or affected
All the characters are either too camp or too dull.