exaggerate

verb

Save Word

ex·ag·ger·ate | \ ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt

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 Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about exaggerate

Keep scrolling for more

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 Palm Beach Post Maybe Davon Godchaux is exaggerating. — Hal Habib, USA TODAY, "Dolphins DT Davon Godchaux: 'Everybody will freak out' if NFL can't play season due to coronavirus," 14 May 2020 Critics in Europe accused WHO of having exaggerated the pandemic threat in order to generate profits for the pharmaceutical industry, pointing to consulting arrangements that the agency’s influenza experts had with vaccine manufacturers. — Andrew Lakoff, The Conversation, "Why the WHO, often under fire, has a tough balance to strike in its efforts to address health emergencies," 1 May 2020 For example, a cytokine storm could cause brain swelling, and the blood’s exaggerated tendency to clot could trigger strokes. — Meredith Wadman, Science | AAAS, "How does coronavirus kill? Clinicians trace a ferocious rampage through the body, from brain to toes," 17 Apr. 2020 The brief strongly implies without stating outright that Jessop may be exaggerating the coin collection’s existence and value. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "To Protect and Serve, or Pilfer and Steal?," 17 Apr. 2020 The Telluride has more head- and legroom in both the second and third rows, and, like in a big house, its large windows and tall ceiling exaggerate the feeling of airiness. — Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, "2020 Kia Telluride vs. 2020 Toyota Highlander: A Battle for Three-Row Supremacy," 31 Mar. 2020 Yokelson was exaggerating the field’s simplicity, but the assets needed to run a comprehensive project had never been deployed. — Kyle Dickman, Scientific American, "The Hidden Toll of Wildfires," 1 Mar. 2020 Sure, declarations of Roy Moore’s political death have been greatly exaggerated before, but at 73, the man’s political aspirations on this mortal coil are as far-fetched as his chances at sainthood. — John Archibald | Jarchibald@al.com, al, "A week of Alabama political funerals," 8 Mar. 2020 Given that the Braves' rotation included Hall of Famers in Maddux and Smoltz, Smoltz perhaps exaggerates. — David Barron, Houston Chronicle, "John Smoltz praises Astros' rotation after addition of Zack Greinke," 2 Aug. 2019

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.