sensationalize
verb
sen·sa·tion·al·ize
sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nə-ˌlīz 
sensationalized; sensationalizing
: 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
The violence is not sensationalized, where nothing comes of it.
—
ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
For Johnson, police have to balance not sensationalizing these teen takeovers, while also not writing them off as kids being kids.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
An exception is when the goal of provocative or controversial material is prosocial rather than selfish—to challenge discrimination and foster productive dialogue on social issues rather than to sensationalize or garner ratings and profit.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Characters are skewed not to create an evenhanded debate but to sensationalize one, with a young fact-minded novice looking to follow the rules is blindsided by a supercilious writer not willing to bend his vision to the needs of editors, fact checkers or even printers or distributors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sensationalize
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ArsTechnica, 13 May 2026
For Johnson, police have to balance not sensationalizing these teen takeovers, while also not writing them off as kids being kids.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
An exception is when the goal of provocative or controversial material is prosocial rather than selfish—to challenge discrimination and foster productive dialogue on social issues rather than to sensationalize or garner ratings and profit.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Characters are skewed not to create an evenhanded debate but to sensationalize one, with a young fact-minded novice looking to follow the rules is blindsided by a supercilious writer not willing to bend his vision to the needs of editors, fact checkers or even printers or distributors.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sensationalize
Cite this Entry
“Sensationalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensationalize. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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