as in exaggerated
disapproving
to describe or show something in a way that makes it seem more shocking than it really is
Journalists should report the news accurately without trying to sensationalize it.
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Recent Examples of sensationalized
The king of Haiti’s tragic death is one of the most dramatized, and sensationalized, episodes in Haitian history.
—
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Studies have found that people who watch a lot of local news, in which crime is often sensationalized, tend to get a distorted view of how dangerous their neighborhood is.
—Zeynep Tufekci, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Marlene L. Daut
september 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Studies have found that people who watch a lot of local news, in which crime is often sensationalized, tend to get a distorted view of how dangerous their neighborhood is.
—Zeynep Tufekci, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensationalized
Verb
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People have often tried to predict the end of the world, and while rumors of its imminent demise have been exaggerated, the viral video by Mhlakela and mixed social media reaction to it show the intrigue that the belief retains.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
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Maduro insisted in his letter that Venezuela’s role in regional drug trafficking has been exaggerated and politically manipulated.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Reid elaborated on Kelce during his Monday video call with reporters.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
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Safety Nick Scott elaborated on that point.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sensationalized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sensationalized. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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