Definitions

hammy

[ham-ee] / ˈhæm i /

ADJECTIVE

affected

Synonyms

STRONG

assumed contrived counterfeit counterfeited faked feigned imitated overdone pretended shallow sham simulated studied unnatural

WEAK

apish artificial awkward campy chichi conceited false fraudulent gone Hollywood highfalutin hollow insincere la-di-da melodramatic ostentatious pedantic phony pompous precious pretentious put on schmaltzy self-conscious spurious stiff stilted superficial theatrical twee

Antonyms

STRONG

genuine natural real sincere true

WEAK

unchanged

ADJECTIVE

exaggerated

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abstract distorted excessive extravagant fabricated false farfetched hyperbolic inflated magnified melodramatic overblown overwrought preposterous pretentious stylized unrealistic

STRONG

amplified bouncing embroidered exalted overdone overestimated steep strained

WEAK

a bit thick artificial caricatural fabulous fantastic highly colored histrionic histrionical impossible out of proportion overkill schmaltzy sensational spectacular tall too much too-too

Antonyms

STRONGEST

actual believable calm factual moderate real realistic reasonable sensible straight

WEAK

depreciated minimized played down reduced understated unembellished unexaggerated

ADJECTIVE

histrionic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flamboyant frenzied histrionical maudlin mawkish overemotional overwrought sensational sentimental stagy

STRONG

bombastic emotional exaggerated grandiloquent melodramatic overacted overacting overplayed

WEAK

dramatic farcical theatric theatrical

Antonyms

STRONG

deadpan low-key matter-of-fact understated

ADJECTIVE

la-di-da

Synonyms

WEAK

apish artificial assumed awkward campy chichi conceited contrived counterfeit counterfeited faked false feigned fraud gone Hollywood ham highfalutin hollow imitated insincere mannered melodramatic ostentatious overdone pedantic phony playacting pompous precious pretended pretentious put on schmaltzy self-conscious shallow sham simulated spurious stiff stilted studied superficial theatrical unnatural

ADJECTIVE

melodramatic

Synonyms

STRONGEST

theatrical

WEAK

artificial blood-and-thunder cliff-hanging cloak-and-dagger exaggerated ham histrionic histrionical hokey overdramatic overemotional sensational spectacular stagy

Antonyms

WEAK

calm normal untheatrical

ADJECTIVE

theatrical

Synonyms

STRONGEST

campy comic exaggerated melodramatic operatic showy

STRONG

thespian vaudeville

WEAK

affected artificial ceremonious dramaturgic histrionic histrionical mannered meretricious ostentatious pompous schmaltzy staged stagy stilted superficial theatric tragic unnatural unreal

Antonyms

WEAK

comedic real undramatic untheatrical

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But such compromises do not exist in the extreme and often hammy world of Mr. Tallent’s fiction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

Exactly 86 minutes after Wood was cleared following concerns over a hamstring injury, Australia's Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of Friday's first Test with a dodgy hammy of his own.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2025

But the banter is quick and Yelena and Alexei’s Russian accents are enjoyably hammy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025

It’s not easy when you pull a hammy just as you’re getting set to pull away from the pack.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2024

It is the chore he has come to assume, making us laugh with his hammy asides.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

hammy

Example Sentences

Related Words