sensationalize

verb

sen·sa·tion·al·ize | \ sen-ˈsā-shnə-ˌlīz

sensationalized; sensationalizing

Definition of sensationalize

transitive verb

: to present in a sensational manner

Examples of sensationalize in a Sentence

Journalists should report the news accurately without trying to sensationalize it.

Recent Examples on the Web

But as a scholar of digital media and sexuality, my hunch is that these headlines sensationalize Facebook’s impact on online dating ecology. — Chelsea Reynolds, Fortune, "Why Millennials Will Swipe Left on Facebook’s New Dating Service," 1 May 2018 As the mystery of the recruit’s disappearance is slowly unveiled and the emotional baton passes to his bewildered mother (Jennifer Aniston), the director refuses to sensationalize the tragedy, melting it into a broader narrative of everyday horrors. — David Lowery, New York Times, "Review: In ‘The Yellow Birds,’ Two Soldiers Deploy, but Only One Comes Home," 14 June 2018 Research suggests that news stories that report in detail on, among other things, the method used, can sensationalize suicide and increase the risk of similar deaths. — Amanda Gardner, Health.com, "What to Say–and What Not to Say–When You Talk About Suicide," 12 June 2018 Stories are being fabricated to sensationalize this…I was so manipulated by the attorney general and now by Judge Aquilina. — Alice Park, Time, "Judge Aquilina Delivers Powerful Statement Before Sentencing Larry Nassar: 'I Just Signed Your Death Warrant'," 24 Jan. 2018 The book doesn’t sensationalize the condition, though. — The Editors, Outside Online, "What Our Editors Loved in March," 29 Mar. 2018 The stories that are being fabricated to sensationalize this. — CBS News, "Larry Nassar's letter elicits gasps in packed courtroom," 25 Jan. 2018 The stories that are being fabricated to sensationalize this. — Kirsten Korosec, Fortune, "Read the Judge's Emotional Remarks in Sentencing of U.S. Gymnastics Doctor Larry Nassar," 25 Jan. 2018 People tend to sensationalize this job a little bit. — Vanessa Marin, Redbook, "What It's Really Like to Be a Sex Therapist," 24 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sensationalize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.