as in sensational
arousing a strong and usually superficial interest or emotional reaction
letters to the editor criticizing the newspaper's sensationalistic reporting
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Recent Examples of sensationalistic
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
With a lesser interpreter, the movie might have been just a sensationalistic shocker, but Keaton brought integrity and emotional candor to Theresa’s messy search to define herself.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
With a lesser interpreter, the movie might have been just a sensationalistic shocker, but Keaton brought integrity and emotional candor to Theresa’s messy search to define herself.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sensationalistic
Adjective
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Veteran Cassel has never been better and is well matched with both an edgy Niney (The Count of Monte Cristo) and a sensational Efira, who has two films in Cannes this year the other being Hamaguchi Ryusuke’s Soudain.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
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Kiffin sat down with Vanity Fair at the beginning of the month to discuss a whole grab bag of topics, but the most sensational headlines came from his comments regarding his former employer, Ole Miss.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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But times have changed, and this team of buffoons is forced to grapple with changing industry ethics and sensationalist journalism in its transition, all while Ron faces an identity crisis that challenges his bravado, his massive ego.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sensationalistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sensationalistic. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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