sensationalize — to present information in a way that is intended to provoke public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to present information in a way that is intended to provoke public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy
Pronunciation (IPA): /sɛnˈseɪʃənəˌlaɪz/
Example Sentences
- The tabloid newspaper loves to sensationalize celebrity breakups with dramatic headlines.
- My grandmother tends to sensationalize every minor health issue into a life-threatening emergency.
- Social media platforms often sensationalize political events to increase user engagement.
sensationalize
VERB[/sɛnˈseɪʃənəˌlaɪz/]
to present information in a way that is intended to provoke public interest and excitement, at the expense of accuracy
Tabloid editors sensationalize a small cat rescue into a wild front-page disaster story.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin 'sensus' (sensation, feeling) combined with the verb-forming suffix '-ize'. It evolved to mean 'to make sensational' or 'to present in a way that appeals to sensation and emotion rather than reason'.
Breakdown
sensation (from Latin sensus, meaning sensation or feeling) + -ize (verb-forming suffix meaning 'to make' or 'to cause to become').
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The tabloid newspaper loves to sensationalize celebrity breakups with dramatic headlines.”
“My grandmother tends to sensationalize every minor health issue into a life-threatening emergency.”
“Social media platforms often sensationalize political events to increase user engagement.”
“Don't sensationalize your dating stories - we know you just ate pizza and watched Netflix!”
📚Related Words
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