sensationality

Noun

sensationality (countable and uncountable, plural sensationalities)

1. (uncountable) The quality of being sensational.
   • I began to borrow the striking phraseology of N. Parker Willis, to experience a notion of no-leggedness, succeeded by an acute pit-of-the-stomach-rheumatic-sensationality, and a general savage impulse in the direction of chaotic pitch-a-head-a-tiveness.1857 July, “My Neighbor’s Rooster. An Extravaganza.”, in Russell’s Magazine, volume I, number IV, Charleston, S.C.: Steam Power-Press of Walker, Evans & Co., page 354, column 1
   • It is a piece wholly sensational, and devoid of any special merit to atone for its redundancy of bad sensationality.1865 March 18, “Theatres”, in The Orchestra: A Weekly Review of Music and the Drama, volume III, number 77, London, page 391, column 2

   Synonyms:

   sensationalness

2. (countable) Something or someone sensational.
   • The special sensationalities were the big drum, (as large as an ordinary room,) the big organ, and the anvil chorus.1872 June 24, The Southern Home, volume 3, number 126, Charlotte, N.C.
   • By-the-way, those of your readers who have a love for stage sensationalities of the most brilliant and studied kind should endeavour to see Mrs. Bernard Beere in “As in a Looking Glass.”1887 May 31, “Our London Letter”, in The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent, volume LXVIII, number 10,212, published 1 June 1887, page 4