Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense sensationalizes, present participle sensationalizing, past tense, past participle sensationalizedregional note: in BRIT, also use sensationalise
verb
If someone sensationalizes a situation or event, they make it seem worse or more shocking than it really is.
[disapproval]
Local news organizations are being criticized for sensationalizing the story. [VERB noun]
sensationalize in British English
or sensationalise (sɛnˈseɪʃənəˌlaɪz)
verb
(transitive)
to cause (events, esp in newspaper reports) to seem more vivid, shocking, etc, than they really are
sensationalize in American English
(sɛnˈseɪʃənəˌlaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: senˈsationalˌized or senˈsationalˌizing