exaggerate

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verb

Definition of EXAGGERATE

1

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 color, elaborate (on), embellish, exaggerate, hyperbolize, magnify, pad, stretch

Related Words dress up, gussy up; amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out); fudge, hedge; overdo, overdraw, overemphasize, overplay, overstate; emphasize, play up, stress; caricature; satirize

Near Antonyms belittle, minimize, play down, understate

2

to describe or express in too strong terms <it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam>

Synonyms exaggerate, overdo, overdraw, put on

Related Words color, elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, play up, stretch; fudge, hedge; melodramatize, overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize

Near Antonyms belittle, minimize, play down

Antonyms understate