1
as in to enhance
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 & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overstate
to describe or express in too strong terms
it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exaggerate
Just some want a little bit to exaggerate this here.
—
Max Mathews, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Allegations that are now spreading online could be misinterpreting records or exaggerating minor issues — or could be exposing actual fraudulent activity.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
Public health discussions often emphasize relative risks, which can exaggerate harm.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Their leaders and citizens imagine or exaggerate threats.
—Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Max Mathews, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Allegations that are now spreading online could be misinterpreting records or exaggerating minor issues — or could be exposing actual fraudulent activity.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026
Public health discussions often emphasize relative risks, which can exaggerate harm.
—Robert M. Kaplan, STAT, 1 Jan. 2026
Their leaders and citizens imagine or exaggerate threats.
—Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
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The research team aims to explore how the patches can enhance situational awareness and monitor exposure for military personnel in hazardous environments.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
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Items such as candle sconces and decorative milagros add a touch of sparkle and enhance the mood.—
Abby Wolner,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, the impact of the French New Wave is hard to overstate, said Robbie Collin in The Telegraph.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
5 Feb. 2026
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The latter expectation is overstated, but e-bikes are a great trend in mobility.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Seahawks players already padded their bank accounts by nearly $200,000 through the first three rounds of the playoffs.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The Tommies padded the lead with a power-play goal by Jake Braccini midway through the period before the Huskies added a goal in the final minute.—
Dean Spiros,
Twin Cities,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Just make sure to not overdo it.—
Cheyenne Buckingham,
SELF,
6 Feb. 2026
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Rice Cakes On Their Own Rice cakes are a simple way to satisfy the craving for crunch without overdoing it on calories.—
Lauren Panoff,
Verywell Health,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The filthy talk of collusion, of course hyperbolized by Unsocial Media, again is crawling out of the swamp.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2023
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Yet the internet — the same force that has increased awareness of social-justice movements — has hyperbolized all entreaties to our fragmented attention spans.—
Lauren Oyler,
New York Times,
8 May 2018
Verb
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Lithium, a soft metal necessary for the production of rechargeable batteries, is plentiful in the brine buried in the Smackover Formation, which stretches from east Texas through southern Arkansas and east to the Florida panhandle.—
DIDI TANG,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
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Republicans argue the region’s frustrations reflect years of structural failures under Cooper’s disaster management system, stretching back to earlier storms.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Everything is colored red there, and there are no gold fixtures to show off or gloat over.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
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Inside The Lot at Formosa, Young’s hair, once a mullet with stark blond streaks, was now colored black and curled in coils down her back.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Prosecutors are now looking at a financial accounts for the Walshe family, including an account overdrawn by about $800.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
2 Dec. 2025
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If the account is overdrawn for a day or so, the brain can adjust quickly.—
Andrew Mawson,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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