histrionics

[his-tree-on-iks] /ˌhɪs triˈɒn ɪks/

noun, (used with a singular or plural verb)

dramatic representation; theatricals; acting.

behavior or speech for effect, as insincere or exaggerated expression of an emotion; dramatics; operatics:

Cut out the histrionics—we know you're not really mad.

Origin

1860-65; see histrionic, -ics

Can be confused

hysterics, histrionics.

histrionic

[his-tree-on-ik] /ˌhɪs triˈɒn ɪk/

adjective, Also, histrionical

of or pertaining to actors or acting.

deliberately affected or self-consciously emotional; overly dramatic, in behavior or speech.

noun

an actor.

Origin

1640-50; < Late Latin histrōnicus of actors, equivalent to histriōn- (stem of histriō) actor (said to be < Etruscan) + -icus -ic

Related forms

histrionically, adverb

nonhistrionic, adjective

nonhistrionical, adjective

nonhistrionically, adverb

nonhistrionicalness, noun

unhistrionic, adjective

Examples from the web for histrionics

After the histrionics of the last few days, the spring and summer couture collections ended on a calming note today.
In the past he has faced down critics with histrionics and theatrical brinkmanship.
It is rare to encounter such a determined lack of ostentatious histrionics in this music.
Either would be appropriate channels for your histrionics.
The histrionics of the global warming faithful is always good for a laugh.
Given the subject matter, the dancers' histrionics could be called appropriately melodramatic.
But its histrionics were attention getting rather than eloquent.
The judge threw ostentatious glances at the clock, annoyed by the histrionics and eager to get to the job at hand.
She doesn't serve the cause of victims with such histrionics.
histrionics fly high in the mistaken notion that shouting is synonymous with acting.

British Dictionary definitions for histrionics

histrionic

/ˌhɪstrɪˈɒnɪk/

adjective

excessively dramatic, insincere, or artificial: histrionic gestures

(rare) dramatic

noun

(pl) melodramatic displays of temperament

(rare) (pl, functioning as singular) dramatics

Derived Forms

histrionically, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Late Latin histriōnicus of a player, from histriō actor

Word Origin and History for histrionics

"theatrics, pretense," 1864, from histrionic; also see -ics.

histrionic

adj.

"theatrical" (figuratively, "hypocritical"), 1640s, from Latin histrionicus "pertaining to an actor," from histrio (genitive histrionis) "actor," said to be of Etruscan origin. The literal sense in English is from 1759.