exaggerate

/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/

Say it: ig-ZAJ-uh-rayt

verb To represent something as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is.
The fisherman was known to exaggerate the size of his catch.

📖 Seen in the wild

He tended to exaggerate his achievements to impress others.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ exaggerate in a sentence

While the report has some valid points, it tends to exaggerate the risks involved.
I'm not exaggerating when I say it was the most difficult exam I've ever taken.
The press was accused of exaggerating the severity of the scandal to sell more papers.
He told an exaggerated story about his vacation, making it sound far more adventurous than it was.
Let's be careful not to exaggerate our team's capabilities in the project proposal.
Children often exaggerate their injuries to get more attention from their parents.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

overstate embellish magnify overemphasize inflate amplify hyperbolize stretch the truth

overstate · implies a more deliberate and less dramatic inflation of facts.

embellish · suggests adding fictional details to make a story more interesting, not just inflating existing facts.

magnify · implies making something seem more important or serious, often by focusing on it excessively.

overemphasize · focuses on giving too much importance to one particular aspect of something.

Opposites: understate, minimize, downplay, belittle

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'exaggerate' comes from the Latin 'exaggerare', which literally means 'to heap up'. This came from 'ex-' (out, thoroughly) and 'agger' (a heap or pile). The figurative meaning of overstating something evolved from this very physical idea of piling on more than is necessary to make something seem bigger.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

grossly exaggeratetendency to exaggerateexaggerate the importance ofexaggerate the threatslightly exaggerate

Exaggerate is a versatile word used in both formal and informal settings. Its connotation depends entirely on the degree of untruth. A 'slight' exaggeration is often harmless and used for humor or effect, while to 'grossly' exaggerate implies a serious and deliberate deception. Be mindful of the context; what is acceptable exaggeration in a personal story might be considered a lie in a news report or a business meeting.

Word family: exaggeration, exaggerated, exaggeratedly

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to exaggerate?

To exaggerate means to describe something as more extreme or important than it actually is. It's like stretching the truth to make a story more interesting or a point more impactful.

What is the difference between 'exaggerate' and 'overstate'?

'Exaggerate' often implies a more dramatic or colorful inflation of the truth for effect. 'Overstate' is a bit more formal and usually refers to a more factual misrepresentation of importance or scale.

Is it bad to exaggerate?

It depends on the context. A slight exaggeration can be a normal part of storytelling or humor, but grossly exaggerating facts can be misleading or dishonest.

What is the noun for exaggerate?

The noun form is 'exaggeration,' which refers to the act of exaggerating or a statement that has been exaggerated.

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