sensationalism

sensationalism Definition

sen·sa·tion·al·ism (-nə liz′əm)

noun

1. the use of strongly emotional subject matter, or wildly dramatic style, language, or artistic expression, that is intended to shock, startle, thrill, excite, etc.
2. preoccupation with or exploitation of what is sensational in literature, art, etc.
Philos. the belief that all knowledge is acquired through the use of the senses

sensationalism Related Forms

sen·sa′·tion·al·ist noun sen·sa′·tion·al·is′·tic adjective

sensationalism Synonyms

emotionalism, melodrama, photism, McCarthyism, sentimentality, yellow journalism; see also drama 2, emotion.

sensationalism Usage Examples

Preposition: of

kind: It merely seeks sensationalism of the worst kind presumably to fill vacant page space.

Converse of subject

dominate: And we will stand out like a beacon of light in a media market dominated by sensationalism and distortion.

Converse of object

avoid: This was a performance which carefully avoided any sensationalism or attention-grabbing dependence on the big numbers.
use: This doesn't mean you have to use tabloid sensationalism.

Adjective modifier

tabloid: No tabloid sensationalism Geoff, the facts tell their own story.
cheap: And yet to dismiss Doing It as cheap sensationalism is to do it a disservice.
such: Such sensationalism is little more than an advertising pitch.
mere: Beyond the mere sensationalism, how important is persona in understanding an artist's practice?
mindless: Page 2002 promotes an approach which he has recently named Mindless Sensationalism.
more: The acceleration of the news cycle by necessity leads to less careful checking, while competition leads to more sensationalism.

Noun used with modifier

medium: Media sensationalism has been the basis for many people's opinions of violent videogames.

Browse dictionary entries near sensationalism