sensationalism

noun

sen·​sa·​tion·​al·​ism sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: empiricism that limits experience as a source of knowledge to sensation or sense perceptions

2

: the use or effect of sensational subject matter or treatment

sensationalist

sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nə-list 

adjective or noun

sensationalistic

sen-ˌsā-sh(ə-)nə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Examples of sensationalism in a Sentence

The network was accused of sensationalism in its reporting.

Recent Examples on the Web

Weegee’s most successful photographs captured events like fires, car crashes, crime scenes, and their aftermath; the value of the pictures relied on their immediacy and sensationalism. —Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 22 Feb. 2025

Sometimes, the bad in this industry gets honored because, once more, sensationalism gets eyes on things. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025

But the director and his actors play it with neither sensationalism nor melodrama. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2025

Like certain characters whose sad fates only become legible after six elusive episodes, viewers stuck on the particulars of a series that leads with silly sensationalism miss our chance to get on board. —Judy Berman, TIME, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sensationalism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anabolism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism