exaggerate

verb
ex·​ag·​ger·​ate | \ ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt How to pronounce exaggerate (audio) \
exaggerated; exaggerating

Definition of exaggerate

transitive verb

1 : to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate a friend exaggerates a man's virtues— Joseph Addison
2 : to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize

intransitive verb

: to make an overstatement

Other Words from exaggerate

exaggerative \ ig-​ˈza-​jə-​ˌrā-​tiv How to pronounce exaggerate (audio) , -​ˈzaj-​rə-​tiv , -​ˈza-​jə-​rə-​tiv \ adjective
exaggerator \ ig-​ˈza-​jə-​ˌrā-​tər How to pronounce exaggerate (audio) \ noun
exaggeratory \ ig-​ˈzaj-​rə-​ˌtȯr-​ē How to pronounce exaggerate (audio) , -​ˈza-​jə-​ \ adjective

Examples of exaggerate in a Sentence

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 The central characters exaggerate negative masculine stereotypes like aggression and independence in service of excellent satire. Adrienne Matei, The Atlantic, 26 July 2022 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 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exaggerate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of exaggerate

1613, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for exaggerate

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

Learn More About exaggerate

Time Traveler for exaggerate

Time Traveler

The first known use of exaggerate was in 1613

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near exaggerate

ex Africa semper aliquid novi

exaggerate

exaggerated

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for exaggerate

Last Updated

30 Sep 2022

Cite this Entry

“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggerate. Accessed 11 Oct. 2022.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

More Definitions for exaggerate

exaggerate

verb
ex·​ag·​ger·​ate | \ ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt How to pronounce exaggerate (audio) \
exaggerated; exaggerating

Kids Definition of exaggerate

: to describe as larger or greater than what is true She exaggerated her successes.

More from Merriam-Webster on exaggerate

Nglish: Translation of exaggerate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of exaggerate for Arabic Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks

  • image1926873504
  • Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!