Word
Definitions
01exceptionally good
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. extremely good, impressive, or attractive.
adj. denoting something of exceptionally high quality or excellence; often used as a superlative in informal or semi-formal contexts.
“The view from the top of the mountain was absolutely sensational.”
“The young pianist gave a sensational performance that left the audience in stunned silence before they erupted into applause.”
02shocking or exaggerated
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. trying to get people's attention by using shocking details or exaggerating the truth.
adj. intended to provoke strong public interest or excitement, often at the expense of accuracy or nuance.
“The newspaper used a sensational headline to sell more copies.”
“Critics accused the documentary of being overly sensational, arguing that it focused on scandalous rumours rather than the documented facts of the case.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03relating to the senses
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. relating to your physical senses, like touch, sight, or hearing.
adj. pertaining to physical sensation or the operation of the senses.
“The experiment measured the sensational response of the skin to different temperatures.”
“The research paper explores the sensational pathways through which the brain processes tactile stimuli in high-pressure environments.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The 24-year-old has overcome her share of setbacks to achieve a historic haul of four European gold medals in a sensational seven days on home soil.” “Rob Schneider, who played the bellboy to Curry's uppity hotel clerk in Home Alone 2, also praised Curry as a "sensational character actor".” Etymology
From sensation + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/sensational
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0