sensational
adjective
sen·sa·tion·al
sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nəl 
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
Synonyms of sensational
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
Drive’s sensational premiere at Cannes in 2011 was a consecration of his cinema, but perhaps also the tipping point.
—
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
Elsewhere, superstar singer-actor Lee Junho of boy band 2PM also won three awards for his acting work, as did sensational trot vocalist Lim Young Woong.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Fuhrman’s testimony in Simpson's 1995 trial transformed what was already a sensational murder case into one nearly as much about racial injustice and law enforcement as the practices and culture of the Los Angeles Police Department came into question.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Sociologist Arthur Frank explores the shape of illness narratives in his sensational book The Wounded Storyteller.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sensational
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Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026
Elsewhere, superstar singer-actor Lee Junho of boy band 2PM also won three awards for his acting work, as did sensational trot vocalist Lim Young Woong.
—Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Fuhrman’s testimony in Simpson's 1995 trial transformed what was already a sensational murder case into one nearly as much about racial injustice and law enforcement as the practices and culture of the Los Angeles Police Department came into question.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 May 2026
Sociologist Arthur Frank explores the shape of illness narratives in his sensational book The Wounded Storyteller.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sensational
Cite this Entry
“Sensational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensational. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sensational
adjective
sen·sa·tion·al
sen-ˈsā-shnəl
-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
-ē
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