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Sensationalism for Dummies

noun

pronunciation: sɛn'seɪʃə,nəlɪzəm

What does Sensationalism really mean?

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Sensationalism is a word that might sound a bit fancy and confusing at first, but let's break it down together to make it easier to understand. Sensationalism is when someone or something tries to grab our attention and get us really excited or shocked about something, usually by using exaggerated or even untrue details. It's kind of like when you play a really fun and exciting video game that has lots of explosions and crazy stunts happening all the time. The game makers want you to get so into it that you can't look away.

But it's not just in video games, sensationalism happens in real life too. You might have seen it on the news or in newspapers before, where they over-exaggerate a story just to get people to read or watch it. They might use dramatic and attention-grabbing headlines or focus on the most shocking parts of a story, even if those parts aren't really the most important. It's like when you're telling a story to your friends and you want to make it sound really exciting so they'll listen to you.

Sometimes, sensationalism can be useful and fun, like in movies or books that are meant to entertain us. But it can become a problem when it's used to manipulate or deceive people. For example, imagine if you heard a rumor about a big event happening at school, like a visit from a famous celebrity. The rumor might spread really quickly because it's so exciting and everyone wants it to be true. But if it turns out that the rumor was started by someone just for attention, then that's an example of sensationalism gone wrong.

So, sensationalism is all about making something seem more exciting or shocking than it really is, often using exaggeration or even lies. It can be fun and entertaining, but we need to be careful not to believe everything we see or hear, and to always look for the true and important details behind the sensationalized ones.

Revised and Fact checked by Mike Johnson on 2023-10-30 02:15:56

Sensationalism In a sentece

Learn how to use Sensationalism inside a sentece

  • When a newspaper exaggerates the details of a small event to make it seem more exciting and dramatic, that's sensationalism. For example, if a newspaper writes a headline like 'Kitten Saves Family from Alien Invasion,' it's using sensationalism to catch people's attention.
  • Some TV shows or movies might use sensationalism to make a scene more intense or thrilling. They may add loud music, bright lights, or exaggerated actions to make it seem more exciting than it actually is. This is called sensationalism.
  • In social media, people sometimes create sensationalized posts by spreading shocking or exaggerated stories to get more likes and shares. For instance, someone might claim that eating a certain fruit can cure all diseases, even though there's no scientific evidence for it. That's an example of sensationalism.
  • When a news reporter focuses only on the most dramatic or shocking aspects of a story, and ignores the more important or factual information, they are using sensationalism. For instance, if a reporter covers a celebrity's outfit at an event instead of discussing the purpose of the event, it's sensationalism.
  • Advertisements sometimes use sensationalism to make their products seem extraordinary. They might claim that a shampoo will magically make your hair grow ten times faster, even though it's not scientifically possible. This type of exaggeration is known as sensationalism.

Sensationalism Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Sensationalism Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Sensationalism Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

Sensationalism Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.