sensational
adjective
sen·sa·tion·al
sen-ˈsā-sh(ə-)nəl 
2
: arousing or tending to arouse (as by lurid details) a quick, intense, and usually superficial interest, curiosity, or emotional reaction
sensational tabloid news
3
: exceedingly or unexpectedly excellent or great
a sensational talent
sensationally
adverb
Examples of sensational in a Sentence
She looked sensational in her new dress.
the sensational news story caused a stir, but after a few days everyone forgot about it
Recent Examples on the Web
Less sensational, but devastating on an individual level, is the prospect of AI replacing us in our jobs – a prospect leaving most people obsolete and with no future.
—
Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Max Verstappen followed up his sensational qualifying performance with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix to close the gap on championship leader Lando Norris to one point.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
The properly pale filler is light and tart; the crust is a sensational blend of graham crackers and coconut.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Brissett has a 53-24 career TD-interception ratio, and that’s sensational for a backup quarterback.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sensational
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Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Max Verstappen followed up his sensational qualifying performance with victory at the Japanese Grand Prix to close the gap on championship leader Lando Norris to one point.
—Luke Smith, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025
The properly pale filler is light and tart; the crust is a sensational blend of graham crackers and coconut.
—Jeff Kleinman, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
Brissett has a 53-24 career TD-interception ratio, and that’s sensational for a backup quarterback.
—Steve Silverman, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sensational
Cite this Entry
“Sensational.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensational. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sensational
adjective
sen·sa·tion·al
sen-ˈsā-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl,
sən-
1
: of or relating to sensation or the senses
2
: arousing a strong and usually shallow interest or emotional reaction
sensational news
3
: exceedingly or unexpectedly excellent or great
a sensational diving catch
sensationally
adverb
-ē
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