sensationalist

S1E1N1S1A1T1I1O1N1A1L1I1S1T1

adjective

Sensationalistic; tending to sensationalize; characterized by sensationalism (the use of exaggerated or lurid material in order to gain public attention).

“Near-synonym: clickbait”

Similar
clickbaitballyhoo artist
OriginEnglish sensational ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? →
UncommonScrabble 14
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

adjectivesensationalist (comparative more sensationalist, superlative most sensationalist)

comparative more sensationalist · superlative most sensationalist

  1. Sensationalistic; tending to sensationalize; characterized by sensationalism (the use of exaggerated or lurid material in order to gain public attention).

    Near-synonym: clickbait

    1 more example

    It was a sensationalist newspaper, even by tabloid standards.

    Synonyms: clickbait

nounsensationalist (plural sensationalists)

plural sensationalists

  1. One who indulges in sensational behavior or action.
  2. One who believes or espouses the philosophy of sensationalism.

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveSensationalistic; tending to sensationalize; characterized by sensationalism (the use of exaggerated or lurid material in order to gain public attention).

Similar
clickbait

More synonyms by meaning

nounsomeone who uses exaggerated or lurid material in order to gain public attention

Similar
ballyhoo artist
Broader
publicistpublicizerpubliciser

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishsensation
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  4. Englishsensational
  5. Englishsensationalist

From sensational + -ist.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan sensacionalista
  • sensacionalistacharacterized by sensationalism
Czech senzacechtivý
  • senzacechtivýcharacterized by sensationalism
Dutch sensatiebelust
  • sensatiebelustcharacterized by sensationalism
Finnish sensaatiohakuinen
  • sensaatiohakuinencharacterized by sensationalism
French sensationnaliste, putassier
  • sensationnalistecharacterized by sensationalism
  • putassiercharacterized by sensationalism
Greek αισθησιαρχικός, αισθησιοκρατικός
  • αισθησιαρχικός (aisthisiarchikós)characterized by sensationalism
  • αισθησιοκρατικός (aisthisiokratikós)characterized by sensationalism
Hungarian szenzációhajhász
  • szenzációhajhászcharacterized by sensationalism
Polish sensualistyczny
  • sensualistycznycharacterized by sensationalism
Portuguese sensacionalista
  • sensacionalistacharacterized by sensationalism
Spanish sensacionalista
  • sensacionalistacharacterized by sensationalism

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

sanitationless
Cite this entry
APA

sensationalist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalist

MLA

“sensationalist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalist. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sensationalist,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensationalist.

Source: sensationalist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.