sensationalist
Americanadjective
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of or relating to subject matter, language, or style intended to provoke strong emotions, especially at the expense of factual accuracy.
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of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism.
noun
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a writer or journalist who deliberately designs content to provoke strong emotions, especially at the expense of factual accuracy.
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a person who follows or advocates for the philosophical doctrine of sensationalism.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Hannah said she has respected the Kennedy family’s privacy and, like Schlossberg, condemned “self-serving sensationalists trading in gossip, innuendo and speculation.”
From Los Angeles Times
Despite the sensationalist frenzy that can come with all things Kennedy, the showrunners maintain that their approach to the relationship and the family is respectful.
He says it is the “controversial” stuff that tends to get the most views - and compares this to “sensationalist” traditional media.
From BBC
Meieran used to write off some of the more sensationalist legends about Clifton’s, like rumors of a mistress’ remains being scattered in the ballroom.
From Los Angeles Times
The publication became a nationwide hit under a previous owner, Generoso Pope Jr., who took the New York Enquirer, a New York City tabloid, and transformed it into The National Enquirer, a sensationalist supermarket staple.
From Seattle Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.