sensational

adjective

sen·​sa·​tion·​al sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nəl How to pronounce sensational (audio)
1
: of or relating to sensation or the senses
2
: arousing or tending to arouse (as by lurid details) a quick, intense, and usually superficial interest, curiosity, or emotional reaction
sensational tabloid news
3
: exceedingly or unexpectedly excellent or great
a sensational talent
sensationally adverb

Examples of sensational in a Sentence

She looked sensational in her new dress. the sensational news story caused a stir, but after a few days everyone forgot about it
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sensational turn in the case fueled breathless news coverage as the public became hungry for any revelation about the brothers’ motives or the dark secrets that had been festering inside the Menendez family home. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025 The Penguins outplayed the Rangers in the first period and evened the game in the second period when the sensational 18-year-old rookie Ben Kindel scored his first NHL goal. Josh Yohe, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 Each of those seasons sparked conversations around sensational portrayals of murder victims, and Ed Gein has also been stirring up some debate. Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 Often sensational in tone and light on substance, these reports typically allege that a company has misstated its financial condition, overstated business prospects, or engaged in improper practices. Tim Reynolds, Fortune, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sensational

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sensational was in 1807

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sensational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensational. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sensational

adjective
sen·​sa·​tion·​al sen-ˈsā-shnəl How to pronounce sensational (audio)
-shən-ᵊl,
sən-
1
: of or relating to sensation or the senses
2
: arousing a strong and usually shallow interest or emotional reaction
sensational news
3
: exceedingly or unexpectedly excellent or great
a sensational diving catch
sensationally
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on sensational

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!