to sensationalize
12
6.8
- verb
- /sɛnˈseɪʃənəˌlaɪz/
- Literature
:
sensacionalizar
- It's important not to sensationalize the facts when reporting on serious issues.
- sensationalized coverage
- sensationalized stories
- sensationalized media
you know, the trick is, is that the media likes to sensationalize this as if
- you know, the trick is, is that the media likes to sensationalize this as if
- Yeah, that to me is just sensationalizing and I'm not going to do that.
- They also often sensationalize little people.
- I didn't have to glamorise it, sensationalise it.
- And what I realized is I was one of those reporters early on and I still struggle with it to sensationalize women and girls.
- And obviously some journalist who's you know, every single day has a job to sensationalize and make copy.
- I, you know, it just seemed so sickening to a sensationalize this stuff with kids and use it for ratings.
- But I do feel we've sensationalized it a bit to the point where people are afraid to even fucking look at each other.
Examples
-
As for the media, reporting of the war was sometimes sensationalized and often ahistorical and ethnocentric.
Academic text (1991) -
I don't want to sensationalize this case any more than you do.
-
Yeah, he takes an ordinary story and tries to sensationalize it.
-
So what do you think changing a message to sensationalize the emotion does to help a situation?
Blog text (28) -
Do you try to add to the conversation, or are you posting to sensationalize a particular event?
Blog text (28) -
They're trying to sensationalize something, get views and get traffic.
-
Do you think there are aspects of the musical culture that have been exaggerated and sensationalized in the film?
Academic text (2009) -
While the Indian response was greatly appreciated, the Indian media was highly criticized for sensationalizing the relief efforts.
Academic text (2018) -
The news outlet tends to sensationalize stories to attract more viewers.
-
Many tabloids sensationalize celebrity gossip to make it more appealing.
Synonyms
258
3.1
To say something is larger, better, or worse than it really is
53
4.4
To promote something with exaggerated, flashy advertising to get attention
47
4.2
To make something seem more important or bigger than it really is
34
4.6
To make something seem more important or serious than it really is
15
4.2
To make something seem more exciting or important than it really is
13
4.6
Make something seem more important or serious than it really is
9
4.3
Make something seem more important or impressive than it is
9
5.6
To make something seem bigger or more important than it really is
7
4.9
Make something seem better than it really is
4
3.7
To make something seem more important or bigger than it is
3
6.6
Describe something as more serious or emotional than it really is
1
5.1
Make something seem much bigger or more important than it is
1
7.9
To make something seem much bigger or more important than it really is
To make something seem more emotional and dramatic than it is
To make something seem more sentimental or fake than it really is
To make a story sound more exciting or important than it really is
Make people click by using exaggerated headlines or images
Describe something as more important or impressive than it really is
Antonyms
How Sensational
53
4.4
258
3.1
- Literature
12
6.8
15
4.2
∞
1.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
sensationalize = sensational (transparent) = sensation + al + ize
Formed by adding the productive verbalizing suffix '-ize' to 'sensational', so the meaning 'to make sensational' is directly predictable.
Etymology
Sensationalize comes from sensation ('a strong feeling' or 'a shocking event') plus the verb ending -ize meaning 'make'. So to sensationalize is to 'make' something into a 'sensation', to present it as more exciting or shocking than it really is.