dramatize
UK: ˈdræmətaɪz | US: ˈdræmətaɪz
vt. to adapt a story or event into a dramatic form (e.g., a play or film)
vt. to exaggerate emotions or actions for theatrical effect
The word "dramatize" combines "drama," derived from Greek drama (action, play), with the suffix "-ize," from Greek -izein (to make or render). "Drama" originally referred to staged performances, while "-ize" transforms nouns into verbs meaning "to make or cause to be." Thus, "dramatize" literally means "to make into a drama," reflecting its dual sense of adapting narratives for performance and exaggerating real-life events for dramatic impact.
The director plans to dramatize the novel for a Broadway adaptation.
She tends to dramatize minor problems, turning them into crises.
The documentary avoids dramatizing the events, sticking to factual reporting.
His speech dramatized the struggles of early settlers with vivid imagery.
The film dramatizes historical battles with intense action sequences.