hyperbolic

1 of 2

adjective (1)

hy·​per·​bol·​ic ˌhī-pər-ˈbä-lik 

variants or less commonly hyperbolical

ˌhī-pər-ˈbä-li-kəl 

: of, relating to, or marked by language that exaggerates or overstates the truth : of, relating to, or marked by hyperbole

hyperbolic claims

hyperbolically

ˌhī-pər-ˈbä-li-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hyperbolic

2 of 2

adjective (2)

1

geometry : of, relating to, or being like a curve that is formed by the intersection of a double right circular cone with a plane that cuts both halves of the cone : of, relating to, or being analogous to a hyperbola

2

: of, relating to, or being a space in which more than one line parallel to a given line passes through a point

hyperbolic geometry

Examples of hyperbolic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Change this to a charity advertisement, and you get bombarded with hyperbolic sadness, the old people’s tears, their loneliness. — Alicja Turczyk, The Dial, 29 Sep. 2026

The same mathematical framework applies to 2D materials like hexagonal boron nitride and molybdenum trioxide, which host hybrid light-matter excitations called hyperbolic phonon polaritons. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 Sep. 2026

Other times people use globally hyperbolic language to communicate their distress. — Jennifer Adaeze Okwerekwu, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026

The use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal trials is controversial, with critics saying the practice chills creative expression and allows prosecutors to distort hyperbolic art in ways that reinforce racist stereotypes. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

see hyperbole

Adjective (2)

see hyperbole

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hyperbolic

• hyperbolic function
• hyperbolic paraboloid

Rhymes for hyperbolic

• alcoholic
• anabolic
• apostolic
• catabolic
• cytosolic
• diabolic
• diastolic
• ethanolic
• melancholic
• metabolic
• methanolic
• parabolic