overdramatize
Make mountains, molehills
To overdramatize is to exaggerate the emotional intensity or significance of something, making it seem more serious, tragic, or exciting than it actually is.
Someone who overdramatizes a minor setback treats it like a catastrophe: She tends to overdramatize every disagreement into a major crisis.
The word implies theatrical excess—blowing things out of proportion for effect or from habit.
Add decorative elements
- inflateFill with gas
- amplifyIncrease in strength
- overstateRepresent as greater
- overplayEmphasize excessively
magnify · blow out of proportion · embroider · hyperbolize · overemphasize · overdraw · sensationalize · catastrophize
Excessively theatrical in style
- histrionicExaggeratedly emotional in behavior
- stageyArtificially theatrical in manner
- performativeDone for appearance's sake
- over-the-topExcessively dramatic or extravagant
showy · flamboyant · grandiose · campy · bombastic · overacted · scenery-chewing · attention-seeking
Emotionally out of control
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- weepyInclined to cry
- tearfulProne to weeping
- sob storyPitiful excuse for sympathy
maudlin · sentimental · anguished · wailing · hand-wringing · pearl-clutching · tantrum · meltdown
embellish
Add decorative elements
overplay · magnify · blow out of proportion · embroider · hyperbolize · overemphasize · overdraw · sensationalize · catastrophize · make a mountain out of a molehill
hammy
Excessively theatrical in style
- histrionicExaggeratedly emotional in behavior
- stageyArtificially theatrical in manner
- performativeDone for appearance's sake
over-the-top · showy · flamboyant · grandiose · campy · bombastic · overacted · scenery-chewing · attention-seeking · showboating
hysterical
Emotionally out of control
- overwroughtExcessively emotional or elaborate
- weepyInclined to cry
- tearfulProne to weeping
sob story · maudlin · sentimental · anguished · wailing · hand-wringing · pearl-clutching · tantrum · meltdown · histrionics
overdramatizeunderstate
Express with restraint
downplay · minimize · underplay · play down · soft-pedal
overdramatic, overdramatized, overdramatise, overdramatizing, overdramatizes, overdramatised, overdramatises, overdramatising