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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exaggerate
Another problem is that therapy-speak can exaggerate the severity of what might be typical conflict.
—
Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
On top of that, the lineup projects to be too left-handed at the moment, which would be further exaggerated by adding Bellinger back into the fold.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Trump has exaggerated the 2022 inflation crisis as the worst in US history.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Studies have found that companies tend to buy cheap, low-quality carbon credits, which run a risk of exaggerating their carbon reduction claims or providing results that would have happened anyway, leaving no real climate benefit.
—Brian P. McCullough, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
On top of that, the lineup projects to be too left-handed at the moment, which would be further exaggerated by adding Bellinger back into the fold.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Trump has exaggerated the 2022 inflation crisis as the worst in US history.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Studies have found that companies tend to buy cheap, low-quality carbon credits, which run a risk of exaggerating their carbon reduction claims or providing results that would have happened anyway, leaving no real climate benefit.
—Brian P. McCullough, The Conversation, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
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Titanium dioxide materials and high-refractive-index lenses further enhance light absorption.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
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These features are further enhanced by technology that adapts to individual preferences, such as smart shower controls and lighting systems tailored to each user.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The researchers involved in the study are careful not to overstate what the findings mean.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
11 Jan. 2026
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Health experts say there’s a grain of truth to that idea, but the benefits of this combo may be overstated.—
Eleesha Lockett,
Verywell Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Late in the game, Jordan Davison scored on a 1-yard run on fourth down to pad the final margin.—
Charles Odum,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Simons sat for the first six minutes of the second half, watching as Payton Pritchard padded Boston’s lead with a pair of threes and an and-one jumper.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Vinegar is pretty overpowering, even to humans, so don’t overdo it.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
6 Jan. 2026
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Your serving size should be an 8-oz cup to reap some of these benefits without overdoing it.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
5 Jan. 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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Videos appearing to show rows of body bags of those killed in Iran have emerged as anti-regime protests across the Islamic Republic stretch into a third week.—
Holly Williams,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
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The upholstery resists stretching and is simple to maintain, while the high-density foam cushions soften and shape to you over time.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Roberts gave her new hair color the spotlight, wearing a simple plunging black gown with three-quarter-length sleeves.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
12 Jan. 2026
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Hassen is all for going all the way with paint or wallpaper, even going as far as to fully color drench a space, and explains that the end result will appear much more cohesive.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
11 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 15 Jan. 2026.
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