How to Use sensationalize in a Sentence

sensationalize

verb

• Journalists should report the news accurately without trying to sensationalize it.
• The media wants to sensationalize because Usain Bolt is a hero and that is fine.
  — Sara Germano, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2017
• The resulting account cast doubt on what had been the accepted and sensationalized version of the tale.
  — Richard Ruelas, The Arizona Republic, 17 July 2024
• The tragic reason why RFK’s campaign ended is well known, and this show doesn’t sensationalize it at all.
  — courant.com, 23 Sep. 2020
• And yet Arnett, rather than using taxidermy to sensationalize this process, presents the craft as a moving testament to what art cannot do.
  — Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2019
• It’s been easy for modern museums to sensationalize the city’s last days, but the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World has taken a very different approach.
  — James Romm, WSJ, 16 Apr. 2022
• But the 10-episode series has faced backlash since its debut, from those who question the need to revisit and sensationalize Dahmer’s heinous crimes, and profit from the trauma of such tragedy.
  — Leah Campano, Seventeen, 8 Nov. 2022
• Though it’s prompted plenty of chatter, the two scenes that feature the fully naked men aren’t meant to sensationalize, but rather to put the fragility of hyper-masculine egos on display.
  — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 17 Oct. 2022
• More importantly, the IAE warned that the film sensationalized exorcism and failed to convey the suffering of those in need of this ritual.
  — Joseph P. Laycock, Fortune, 4 May 2023
• In the United States, eating insects is often sensationalized, trivialized or framed as a source of cheap protein for an end-of-the-world scenario.
  — Tejal Rao, New York Times, 6 May 2024
• The couple were creatively brave and honest enough to trust Jones to depict that without sensationalizing it.
  — Matt Wake | [e-mail], al, 9 Apr. 2023
• Like Cruise, Pitt’s love life is often sensationalized.
  — Danny Horn, EW.com, 30 June 2024
• Burgess generally thinks the trend is harmless, as long as the programs don’t romanticize or sensationalize the killers.
  — Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 11 July 2024
• Research suggests that news stories that report in detail on, among other things, the method used, can sensationalize suicide and increase the risk of similar deaths.
  — Amanda Gardner, Health.com, 12 June 2018
• And yet the couple still had to navigate a show that, for all its supposed idealism, was working hard to sensationalize their different backgrounds.
  — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 23 June 2022
• Director of Public Works Matt Collins said emergency status isn't meant to shock or sensationalize the issue.
  — Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 12 June 2024
• Even so, as the dispute was sensationalized by the press, public opinion became hotly divided along class lines, with many of London’s poor taking up Orton’s cause.
  — Sam Sacks, WSJ, 1 Sep. 2023
• Her father blames the media’s tendency to sensationalize stories for the error.
  — Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2014
• Despite every effort to sensationalize the mystery at the series' center, there simply isn't enough story to justify eight episodes.
  — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 19 June 2020
• Haas refuses to sensationalize a life that could easily veer into stereotype, and toes the line between awe at the freedom her life provides, and the terrifying loss of the people and beliefs that anchored her worldview.
  — Anne Cohen, refinery29.com, 26 Mar. 2020
• Your responsibility is to inform and educate the public, not to sensationalize fake stories for the sake of ratings.
  — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
• But while this doesn’t exactly count under our current understanding of true crime, Robbins’ death has nonetheless been sensationalized in the exact same way.
  — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2023
• Kay had reservations about the movie, fearful that Hollywood would sensationalize his story — a fear that wasn't totally unfounded — but Steven grew excited at the idea and wanted to move forward.
  — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE.com, 22 Apr. 2022
• In Monday night’s post, Stone chided the publication for taking his June 2023 comments out of context and sensationalizing them, but didn’t elaborate.
  — Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2024
• In uncertain times with some media commentators sensationalizing the news rather than sticking with the facts, no news does not necessarily equate to good news for these employees.
  — Jim Deloach, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2023
• How could Netflix or some other content provider pass up the chance to dramatize and sensationalize this most sensational of American family tragedies.
  — Globe Columnist, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2023
• Prosecutors accuse Enamorado of editing the video multiple times to support his side of the story and to sensationalize the incidents.
  — Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024
• Though each character deals with their individual issues, it’s all done in a matter that doesn’t sensationalize struggle.
  — Rivea Ruff, Essence, 1 Apr. 2022
• Certainly, Hasina’s fall provided room for a spate of attacks on police and minorities, though analysts say the scale of bloodletting has been sensationalized.
  — Charlie Campbell, TIME, 3 Oct. 2024
• The proliferation of these videos exposed another bias, Williams said: The public, including some media outlets, is more inclined to share and sensationalize images of the bodies of people of color.
  — Abby Ohlheiser, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2019

Last Updated: 22 Jan 2025