Meanings
plural sensationalisms
- countableuncountableThe use of sensational subject matter, style or methods, or the sensational subject matter itself; behavior, published materials, or broadcasts that are intentionally controversial, exaggerated, lurid, loud, or attention-grabbing. Especially applied to news media in a pejorative sense that they are reporting in a manner to gain audience or notoriety but at the expense of accuracy and professionalism.
Newspaper articles also were generally positive in tone, although a tendency towards sensationalism means that the spread of hybrid forms is occasionally touted as the universal language of the future.
2018, James Lambert, “A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity”, in English World-Wide, page 9 - countableuncountablehuman sciencesA theory of philosophy that all knowledge is ultimately derived from the senses.
Synonyms: sensualism
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA theory of philosophy that all knowledge is ultimately derived from the senses.
More synonyms by meaning
nounthe journalistic use of subject matter that appeals to vulgar tastes
noun(philosophy) the ethical doctrine that feeling is the only criterion for what is good
noun(philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge derives from experience
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Englishsensation
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
- Englishsensational
- Englishsensationalism
From sensational + -ism.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan sensacionalisme
- sensacionalismeuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Chinese Mandarin 炒作, 感覺主義 /感觉主义
- 炒作 (chǎozuò)use of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- 感覺主義 /感觉主义 (gǎnjuézhǔyì)philosophy
Dutch sensationalisme, sensatiezucht
- sensationalismeuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- sensatiezuchtuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Finnish sensaationtavoittelu, sensationalismi
- sensaationtavoitteluuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- sensationalismiphilosophy
- aistikeskeisyysphilosophy
French sensationnalisme
- sensationnalismeuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
German Sensationsmache
- Sensationsmacheuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Irish gáifeachas, scailéathan
- gáifeachasuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- scailéathanuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- táblóideachasuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- céadfaíochasphilosophy
Polish sensacjonalizm, sensacjonalizm
- sensacjonalizmuse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
- sensacjonalizmphilosophy
Spanish sensacionalismo
- sensacionalismouse of style and subject matter that is intentionally controversial, lurid, or attention-grabbing
Cite this entry
sensationalism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalism
“sensationalism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalism. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sensationalism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalism.
Source: sensationalism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.