exaggerate

verb

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt How to pronounce exaggerate (audio)
Definition of exaggeratenext
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exaggerate As for the constant chatter about the unwelcome safety tech, Roma said the objections may be exaggerated. — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026 In a letter to Congress, the former employees say this betrays that the infrastructure problems are being exaggerated. — Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 28 Sep. 2026 Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 Reports of theater’s death have been exaggerated for generations. — Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
  1. enhance
  2. overstate
  3. pad
  4. overdo
  5. hyperbolize
  6. stretch
  7. color
  8. overdraw
Verb
  • That decade saw other international debuts, including Sweden, Hong Kong, Australia, France and Japan — places that would enhance the awareness and international visibility of the brand — all by 1968.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • There could be uses in agriculture as well, for selectively enhancing edible parts of plants, Theriot said.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Griffin’s representatives say concerns about noise are overstated.
    — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Cory Harris, a lobbyist for state-legal cannabis operators, suggested that dire predictions about its effect on the intoxicating hemp industry are overstated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of overstate
Verb
  • Just Douglas padding around in his socks, still as slim, handsome, and charming as ever.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The sort that wear padded, deep blue gilets with crisp white shirts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of pad
Verb
  • Don’t get too warm, though Although staying warm is essential — things like fingers don’t work as efficiently when chilled — don’t overdo it.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • One of her concerns is layering products, which can easily lead to overdoing it on the actives.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of overdo
Verb
  • Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • 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
Definition of hyperbolize
Verb
  • Instead, it’s comprised of five—Sani Beach, Sani Asterias, Porto Sani, Sani Dunes, and Sani Club—stretched out across a slip of sandy beach backed by pine forests on the northwestern Aegean.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Blue crabs and crawfish are sourced from Louisiana, while shellfish such as oysters, Manila clams and cherrystone clams arrive from waters stretching from the East Coast to Asia.
    — Sara Rosenthal, Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • But many of the implications of Khot’s original conjecture already followed from this 4-to-1 version — most notably, a new result about the difficulty of a classic graph-coloring problem that predates Khot’s work by decades.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The result is that her whole novel is colored by a sense of irresolution.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • No fee if the transaction is $5 or less or your account is overdrawn by $20 or less.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Slightly overdraw the cupid’s bow and the center of your bottom lip — but leave the corners alone.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 29 July 2026
Definition of overdraw

Browse Nearby Words

exacts
exaggerate
exaggerated
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Cite this Entry

“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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