sensationalize

verb

to present or report in a sensational, lurid, or melodramatic manner

Wiktionary

verb

Etymology: Etymology tree English sensation Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English sensational Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English sensationalize From sensational + -ize.

To glorify or inflate the importance of a piece of news; to artificially create a sensation.