exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 
exaggerated; exaggerating
transitive verb
1
: to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate
a friend exaggerates a man's virtues
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison2
: to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize
intransitive verb
: to make an overstatement
exaggerative
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tiv
adjective -ˈzaj-rə-tiv
-ˈza-jə-rə-tiv
exaggerator
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tər
noun exaggeratory
ig-ˈzaj-rə-ˌtȯr-ē
adjective -ˈza-jə-
Synonyms
- color
- elaborate (on)
- embellish
- embroider
- hyperbolize
- magnify
- pad
- stretch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The book exaggerates the difficulties he faced in starting his career. It's impossible to exaggerate the importance of this discovery. He tends to exaggerate when talking about his accomplishments. He exaggerated his movements so we could see them more clearly.
Recent Examples on the Web During his four years in office, Trump was regularly shown to make false claims, exaggerate achievements, and smear enemies. David Rohde, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2022 Both Kyiv and Moscow have reason to exaggerate their victories and downplay their losses. David Axe, Forbes, 8 June 2022 Robert/Kline uses comic-book art to exaggerate human experience. Armond White, National Review, 31 Aug. 2022 But Heche did not exaggerate either of these defining traits, instead using subtle inflections to distinguish the two. Mayukh Sen, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2022 Pardoe sounded genuinely weary of media attempts to exaggerate the level of discord within the pro pickleball world. Michael Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2022 It’s part of our job to exaggerate; it’s part of our job to go there. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Livestreamers can't promote smoking or drinking, discuss scandals or gossip, or engage in activities that exaggerate food waste. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 June 2022 The staff of course has every reason to exaggerate. David Axe, Forbes, 5 July 2022 See More
David Rohde, The New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2022 Both Kyiv and Moscow have reason to exaggerate their victories and downplay their losses. David Axe, Forbes, 8 June 2022 Robert/Kline uses comic-book art to exaggerate human experience. Armond White, National Review, 31 Aug. 2022 But Heche did not exaggerate either of these defining traits, instead using subtle inflections to distinguish the two. Mayukh Sen, The New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2022 Pardoe sounded genuinely weary of media attempts to exaggerate the level of discord within the pro pickleball world. Michael Silverman, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2022 It’s part of our job to exaggerate; it’s part of our job to go there. Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 26 July 2022 Livestreamers can't promote smoking or drinking, discuss scandals or gossip, or engage in activities that exaggerate food waste. Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 23 June 2022 The staff of course has every reason to exaggerate. David Axe, Forbes, 5 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Latin exaggerātus, past participle of exaggerāre "to heap up, construct by piling up, increase in significance," from ex- ex- entry 1 + aggerāre "to heap up over, form into a heap," verbal derivative of agger "rubble, earthwork, rampart, dam," noun derivative of aggerere "to bring, carry (to or up), push close up (against)," from ag- ag- + gerere "to carry, bring" — more at jest entry 1
First Known Use
1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt
exaggerated; exaggerating
: to describe as larger or greater than what is true She exaggerated her successes.
exaggerate
verb
1
as in to hyperbolize
to add to the interest of by including made-up details the American colonist John Smith is believed by many historians to have exaggerated his adventures Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hyperbolize
- enhance
- color
- pad
- embellish
- embroider
- expand
- magnify
- satirize
- emphasize
- stretch
- overstate
- overemphasize
- amplify
- overdo
- stress
- elaborate (on)
- overplay
- caricature
- overdraw
- hedge
- fudge
- enlarge (on or upon)
- play up
- gussy up
- dress up
- flesh (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- minimize
- understate
- belittle
- play down
2
as in to overstate
to describe or express in too strong terms it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam Synonyms & Similar Words
- overstate
- overdo
- pad
- stretch
- overdraw
- elaborate
- embellish
- overemphasize
- put on
- embroider
- magnify
- sensationalize
- color
- overplay
- play up
- hedge
- fudge
- melodramatize
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- understate
- minimize
- belittle
- play down