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

Relevance

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 On the contrary, the gas giant can also exaggerate ego, entitlement, overconfidence and excess. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Emma Wager, senior policy analyst for the program on the ACA at KFF, said there is fraud in the ACA marketplace, but the scale described by the federal government may be exaggerated. — Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 29 June 2026 One Iranian woman, sporting a Pride flag behind her ear, brushed off the culture clash, saying the media exaggerated most of it. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026 Drama hides a hero’s flaws; comedy exaggerates it. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 25 June 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 impressive steak, seasoned just right to enhance the natural flavors of the wagyu beef, is just one reason to visit Enzo Steakhouse at Trilith in Fayetteville.
    — Justin Brown, AJC.com, 12 July 2026
  • Wider Michelin tires come standard, as does enhanced regenerative braking and handy access panels to make servicing easier – a feature your mechanic will certainly appreciate.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 11 July 2026
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Anyone considering an at-home device should talk with a physician first and be wary of products that overstate the science.
    — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026
  • The question is why so many otherwise capable professionals feel compelled to overstate their AI skills in the first place.
    — Susan Jacobson, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of overstate
Verb
  • That leverage also helps pad a thick monthly dividend north of 8%.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • Tampa Bay, meanwhile, padded the American League’s best record to remain four games in front of the New York Yankees in the AL East.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of pad
Verb
  • Be gentle with yourself over the next few days and don’t overdo it.
    — Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
  • Taylor and Travis both love to put on a show, both love to overdo it.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 29 June 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
  • The order covers the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, stretching over Palmyra and Johnston atolls and Kingman Reef, among others.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Additionally, the 100-percent cotton fabric is soft, comfortable, and durable, which means the pants won’t stretch out or lose their shape.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Moreover, the shock of higher prices is still fresh in people's minds and may be coloring consumers' purchasing decisions, despite signs that prices should retreat further.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 5 July 2026
  • But the art director says there’s more to aquamarine than simply color.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, respected worldwide as a global authority on financial risk, has warned withdrawals from nature have far exceeded deposits and many of our accounts are now overdrawn, risking irreversible collapse.
    — Nina Seega, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • Some will argue that our analogy between chatbots and social media platforms is overdrawn — that chatbots are conversational tools, not social networks.
    — William J. Brady, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
Definition of overdraw

Browse Nearby Words

exacts
exaggerate
exaggerated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on exaggerate

Nglish: Translation of exaggerate for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of yaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All