Definition of sensationalnext
1
as in juicy
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction the sensational news story caused a stir, but after a few days everyone forgot about it

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2
as in sensory
of or relating to physical sensation or the senses sensational hallucinations

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3

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of sensational Best Ways to Enjoy As noted, the flesh of dragon fruit is sensational as is—but consider that your jumping-off point. Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 21 June 2026 Ibrahimović is known for being a hard guy to impress, but after seeing the USMNT up close for two matches on the world's biggest stage, the sensational Swedish striker is ready to believe. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026 On this day in 1893, one of the most sensational murder trials in American history came to a shocking conclusion when a Massachusetts jury acquitted Lizzie Borden of murder—after just over an hour of deliberation. Sophia Zhang, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 June 2026 Combs’ four-year, two-month sentence came as a second shock to a captive courtroom audience after the split verdict was read following his sensational eight-week trial. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sensational
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensational
Adjective
  • An adventure with worms, good fat juicy old-time earthworms, moist and sexy and leaving their mucus on you.
    Padgett Powell, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • And last but not least, this fun and juicy rom-com is another delightful offering from Lily Chu — an audio darling whose Audible editions are narrated by Hamilton alum Philippa Soo.
    Nissa Renzo, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • For example, a moisturizer is not going to treat depression or meaningfully improve cognition in a clinical sense, but there is real value in recognizing the connection between sensory experience and the nervous system.
    Pooja Mistry, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Hearing the volume, seeing the lights and getting a sense of crowd energy in advance helps avoid sensory shock in the moment.
    Lauren Schuster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • And with such excellent transit, there can be much greater housing density.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026
  • His group stage has been consistently excellent without announcing itself — the kind of contribution that shows up in the table rather than the highlights.
    Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Adjective
  • Bringing new teenage characters into the Factory, with Kit Connor already announced as lead voice cast, the film appears to be a fast-paced, thrilling and colorful adventure for young audiences, and got enthusiastic feedback from Annecy’s crowds.
    Kevin Giraud, Variety, 24 June 2026
  • Lasichanh sported colorful sneakers for her footwear, carried a small Louis Vuitton bag and wore delicate jewelry pieces to complete her casually bent attire.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • The Grammy Award-winning artist wore a sensual red dress from the designer’s spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
  • Warm and sensual, but with a somewhat fresh, floral drydown.
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • So many wonderful dinners with friends and nights out on the town.
    Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • Soccer – football in much of the world – has a long and wonderful tradition of singing, whether that be in praise of their favorite players, mocking opponents (sometimes, brutally so) or simply urging their team forward.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
Adjective
  • And the patchwork style of Brij Sadanah’s direction enhances the colorfully over-the-top story, which recasts Wuthering Heights as a sensationalistic revenge drama.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2026
  • The result is just old-fashioned cinematic fools’ gold, in which sensationalistic blather poses as social commentary.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • At the Canadian Pavilion, Abbas Akhavan created a sensorial environment centered on fragility, displacement, breath, and survival.
    Thomas Rom, ARTnews.com, 8 June 2026
  • What’s more, the product delivers a luxe sensorial experience and a bit of an afterglow.
    Jenny Berg, Vogue, 1 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sensational.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sensational. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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