sensationalize

verb

sen·​sa·​tion·​al·​ize sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz How to pronounce sensationalize (audio)
sensationalized; sensationalizing
Synonyms of sensationalizenext

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
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And with both projects, Barbato tells Vanity Fair, their goal as filmmakers wasn’t to further sensationalize an already lurid crime. Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026 There is an undeniable oversupply of negative, fear-inducing and even sensationalized content. Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026 Aside from Tapia, the most high-profile figure named in the investigation, there are other protagonists whose entanglement has sensationalized the story. Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 Malice chooses not to sensationalize the moment. Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sensationalize

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sensationalize was in 1863

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sensationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensationalize. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

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