subject matter, language, or style producing or designed to produce startling or thrilling impressions or to excite and please vulgar taste.

the use of or interest in this subject matter, language, or style

The cheap tabloids relied on sensationalism to increase their circulation.

Philosophy .

the doctrine that the good is to be judged only by the gratification of the senses.

the doctrine that all ideas are derived from and are essentially reducible to sensations.

Psychology . sensationism.

noun

aggrandizement , boasting , excess , fabrication , fish story * , hype , hyperbole , overemphasis , puffery , tabloid journalism , tall story , whopper * , yellow journalism *