'melodramatize' originates from English formation combining 'melodrama' + the verb-forming suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein' via Latin/French), where 'melodrama' itself combines Greek 'melos' meaning 'song' and 'drama' meaning 'action' or 'play'.

'melodrama' entered English from French 'mélodrame' (late 18th century), literally 'melody+drama'; English then formed the verb 'melodramatize' by adding '-ize' to 'melodrama', producing the sense 'to treat as a melodrama' and later 'to exaggerate emotionally.'

Initially it meant 'to treat or present as a melodrama (i.e., to add musical or theatrical melodramatic elements)', but over time it evolved to the broader sense 'to exaggerate emotionally or sensationalize' in general usage.