1
as in to enhance
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exaggerate
Sub-six-footers aren’t the only ones who exaggerate their height, though.
—
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Some may suspect the president is exaggerating.
—Drew Endy, Washington Post, 4 June 2026
The companies, meanwhile, say opportunistic lawyers and public adjusters are playing to fears and driving up costs for everyone by exaggerating the risks and damage.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 31 May 2026
The upsell should accelerate or exaggerate the result, the downsell should preserve the win, the bump should be a no-brainer.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Some may suspect the president is exaggerating.
—Drew Endy, Washington Post, 4 June 2026
The companies, meanwhile, say opportunistic lawyers and public adjusters are playing to fears and driving up costs for everyone by exaggerating the risks and damage.
—Jason Henry, Daily News, 31 May 2026
The upsell should accelerate or exaggerate the result, the downsell should preserve the win, the bump should be a no-brainer.
—Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
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Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
-
California has a goal to enhance road safety, and lawmakers are interested in potentially curtailing dangerous vehicle sizes.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Cheese wields a kind of power over the Italian imagination that cannot be overstated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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The future of our financial system depends on moving beyond siloed solutions toward structural solutions that address systemic undervaluation and overstated risk.—
Nina Seega,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Yet the drama is mainly verbal, and while there are revelations about the family history, even a 90-minute running time seems padded.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
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The bag is also equipped with a detachable crossbody strap that's padded for comfort.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Lattes, energy drinks, sodas and pre-workout powders have made caffeine easier to consume than ever and easier to overdo.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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When to Skip Crunches Crunches are generally safe for people with proper form who don’t overdo it.—
Christa Sgobba,
Health,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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The filthy talk of collusion, of course hyperbolized by Unsocial Media, again is crawling out of the swamp.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2023
Verb
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Taiwan’s indigenous people –– who nowadays make up just a tiny proportion of the island’s population –– are believed to be the ancestors of many of the groups who came to inhabit lands stretching from Hawaii and Easter Island in the eastern Pacific, to Madagascar, off the coast of east Africa.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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The perk here is that the material holds up to cold weather by stretching and expanding without breaking, requiring fewer repairs and resource use.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The soundtrack of sneaker squeaks, rallying cries, and bouncing basketballs found visual complement in the crayon box of jerseys coloring the city in various shades of hometown pride.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 June 2026
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On a patch of asphalt that had been colored with chalk to look like a rainbow in honor of Pride, a breakdancer spun for a cheering crowd and an associate who filmed the performance.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The whole world is overdrawn Washington’s problem looks almost manageable next to the global picture.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
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Going through their late mother’s accounts, Sara notices that the joint account Josh shared with her is overdrawn.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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