Exaggerate Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms exaggerate American [ig-zaj-uh-reyt] / ɪgˈzædʒ əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

exaggerated, exaggerating

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)

exaggerated, exaggerating

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

   a person who is always exaggerating.

exaggerate British / 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• exaggeratingly adverb
• exaggeration noun
• exaggerative adjective
• exaggerator noun
• nonexaggerating adjective
• overexaggerate verb
• unexaggerating adjective

Etymology

Origin of exaggerate

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It’s the second time Hernández has played the comedian, whose caricature of Maniscalco in a red blazer and black turtleneck is at turns spot on, exaggerated and completely hilarious.

From Los Angeles Times

Some of the decline in January was exaggerated by a 9.8% output fall in Ireland, whose economy is particularly volatile due to being a base for large multinational firms.

From The Wall Street Journal

U.S. exports rose 5.5% in January to a record $302.1 billion, but the increase was exaggerated by another large outflow of gold and other precious metals.

From MarketWatch

But some economists caution that temporary factors such as weather disruptions and labor strikes may have exaggerated the weakness.

From Barron's

Greg, clueless about just how politically incorrect he can be without even trying, gets chastised several times, though the circumstances are deliberately exaggerated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.