exaggerate

[ ig-zaj-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.

1. to magnify beyond the limits of truth; overstate; represent disproportionately:

   to exaggerate the difficulties of a situation.

   Synonyms: embroider, amplify, embellish

   Antonyms: minimize

2. to increase or enlarge abnormally:

   Those shoes exaggerate the size of my feet.

   Synonyms: inflate

verb (used without object)

, ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.

1. to employ exaggeration, as in speech or writing:

   a person who is always exaggerating.

exaggerate

/ ɪɡˈzædʒəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to regard or represent as larger or greater, more important or more successful, etc, than is true
2. tr to make greater, more noticeable, etc, than usual

   his new clothes exaggerated his awkwardness

Derived Forms

• exˈaggerˌator, noun
• exˈaggerative, adjective
• exˈaggerˌatingly, adverb
• exˌaggerˈation, noun

Other Words From

• ex·agger·ating·ly adverb
• ex·agger·ator noun
• nonex·agger·ating adjective
• over·ex·agger·ate verb overexaggerated overexaggerating
• unex·agger·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exaggerate¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin exaggerātus “heaped up,” past participle of exaggerāre “to heap up,” from ex- ex- ¹ + agger “heap” + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of exaggerate¹

C16: from Latin exaggerāre to magnify, from aggerāre to heap, from agger heap

Example Sentences

The Democrats today are just a typical political party: Sometimes their leaders tell the truth, sometimes they lie, sometimes they exaggerate.

From Slate

They want to legitimize an accounting method that allows companies to exaggerate how much recycled plastic is in their products.

From Salon

Trump, who resented how “The Apprentice” was snubbed at the Emmys and was known to exaggerate the show’s ratings — even to TV journalists — spent years teasing a presidential run.

From Los Angeles Times

The impulse to exaggerate — and vent his frustration in run-on sentences with odd punctuation and random capitalization — is a sure sign Trump is in a swivet.

From Los Angeles Times

And, yes, they even sometimes exaggerate their biographies.

From Salon

Related Words

• amplify
• distort
• emphasize
• fabricate
• falsify
• heighten
• inflate
• magnify
• misrepresent
• overdo
• overdraw
• overemphasize
• overestimate