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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

Austin’s lush mustache and hammy Southern drawl aren’t quite in sync with the tone; Rudd seems stuck in the Ferrell version of the film.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2025

Second, she was wildly overcoached, delivering a hammy performance that sounded nothing like her normal speaking voice.

From Slate • Mar. 9, 2024

His hammy pink face had taken on that dangerous scowl which only appeared when he was extremely cross and somebody was for the high-jump.

From "Boy: Tales of a Childhood" by Roald Dahl