sen·sa·tion·al

[sen-sey-shuh-nl]
adjective
1.
producing or designed to produce a startling effect, strong reaction, intense interest, etc., especially by exaggerated, superficial, or lurid elements: a sensational novel.
2.
extraordinarily good; conspicuously excellent; phenomenal: a sensational quarterback.
3.
of or pertaining to the senses or sensation.

Origin:
1830–40; sensation + -al1

sen·sa·tion·al·ly, adverb
pseu·do·sen·sa·tion·al, adjective
un·sen·sa·tion·al, adjective
un·sen·sa·tion·al·ly, adverb


1. exciting, stimulating.


1. prosaic, dull.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To sensational
00:10
Sensational is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Collins
World English Dictionary
sensational (sɛnˈseɪʃənəl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
adj
1.  causing or intended to cause intense feelings, esp of curiosity, horror, etc: sensational disclosures in the press
2.  informal extremely good: a sensational skater
3.  of or relating to the faculty of sensation
4.  philosophy of or relating to sensationalism
 
sen'sationally
 
adv

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

sensational
"aiming at violently excited effects," 1863, from sensation in its secondary sense. Sensationalism in literature, journalism, etc., first recorded 1865.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
There is an element of the exaggerated or sensational embedded in some of the pieces.
They have a lot of evidence, for instance, a historically sensational health care system for such a large and impoverished nation.
The great promise of his sensational early albums had never brought him the wide following he deserved.
Yet there was nothing sensational about the coverage.
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