histrionic

 
Pronunciation: /ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk/

adjective

  • excessively theatrical or dramatic in character or style: a histrionic outburst
  • formal of or concerning actors or acting: histrionic talents
  • Psychiatry denoting a personality disorder marked by shallow volatile emotions and attention-seeking behaviour.

noun

  • 1 (histrionics) melodramatic behaviour designed to attract attention: by now, Anna was accustomed to her mother’s histrionics
  • archaic dramatic performances; the theatre: he loved the theatre and everything which savoured of histrionics
  • 2 archaic an actor.

Derivatives

histrionically

adverb

Origin:

mid 17th century (in the sense 'dramatically exaggerated, hypocritical'): from late Latin histrionicus, from Latin histrio(n-) 'actor'