exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 
exaggerated; exaggerating
1
: to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate
a friend exaggerates a man's virtues—
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison2
: to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize
: to make an overstatement
Synonyms
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 sweetheart neckline of the bodice was exaggerated by the pointed bust, which then narrowed at the waist before flowing into a drop waist skirt.
—Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel has also accused the aid community of exaggerating the extent of the crisis.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Although China is beset by many problems, including those resulting from Xi’s efforts to exert greater control over the economy, exaggerating these problems serves no one.
—Nicholas R. Lardy, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
The practical effect of the Court’s deliberation on the timing of the case is also being exaggerated.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024
In private, Mayorkas—who is short, fit, and bald, with bushy eyebrows and a cadet’s ramrod posture—is ironic, sharp-witted, and charismatic, a raconteur who leaps out of his seat to exaggerate a detail or deliver a punch line.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
Though exaggerated for this fictional narrative, the scenes of physical abuse in the story are a sample of what continues to happen to young children in Muslim communities to this day, not only in Ghana but across West Africa.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Some analysts and human-rights workers now believe that those concerns were exaggerated amid an atmosphere of widespread anger at the Saudis.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024
But at the same time, there is a good chance that Guardiola was exaggerating, just a touch.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Israel has also accused the aid community of exaggerating the extent of the crisis.
—Lauren Weber, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024
Although China is beset by many problems, including those resulting from Xi’s efforts to exert greater control over the economy, exaggerating these problems serves no one.
—Nicholas R. Lardy, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
The practical effect of the Court’s deliberation on the timing of the case is also being exaggerated.
—The Editors, National Review, 1 Mar. 2024
In private, Mayorkas—who is short, fit, and bald, with bushy eyebrows and a cadet’s ramrod posture—is ironic, sharp-witted, and charismatic, a raconteur who leaps out of his seat to exaggerate a detail or deliver a punch line.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024
Though exaggerated for this fictional narrative, the scenes of physical abuse in the story are a sample of what continues to happen to young children in Muslim communities to this day, not only in Ghana but across West Africa.
—Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024
Some analysts and human-rights workers now believe that those concerns were exaggerated amid an atmosphere of widespread anger at the Saudis.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024
But at the same time, there is a good chance that Guardiola was exaggerating, just a touch.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exaggerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near exaggerate
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggerate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈzaj-ə-ˌrāt
exaggerated; exaggerating
: to enlarge a fact or statement beyond what is actual or true
exaggeratedly
adverb
-ˌrāt-əd-lē
exaggeratedness
noun
-nəs
Etymology
from Latin exaggeratus "exaggerate," from exaggerare, literally, "to heap up"
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