sensationalism

noun

sen·​sa·​tion·​al·​ism sen-ˈsā-shnə-ˌli-zəm How to pronounce sensationalism (audio)
-shə-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 adjective or noun
sensationalistic
sen-ˌsā-shnə-ˈli-stik How to pronounce sensationalism (audio)
-shə-nə-ˈlis-tik
adjective

Examples of sensationalism in a Sentence

The network was accused of sensationalism in its reporting.
Recent Examples on the Web This opening outburst is nonetheless no mere flash of sensationalism. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024 Especially at a time in America in the late ’90s when there was such great scandal and sensationalism and shame around sexuality because of the Clinton scandal. Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 16 June 2024 There’s a sensationalism in the presentation, like the principal goal here is ruining viewers’ childhoods rather than actually digging into the system’s biggest failures. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 6 Apr. 2024 With far more stories and voices finding an audience, populist narratives—which often contained a whiff of sensationalism or provocation—became particularly attractive to media organizations that were chasing eyeballs as revenue from subscriptions and traditional advertising plummeted. Cas Mudde, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016 See all Example Sentences for sensationalism 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sensationalism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sensationalism was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near sensationalism

Cite this Entry

“Sensationalism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensationalism. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

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