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
This can exaggerate shadows and make compact spaces feel even more enclosed.
—
Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 14 June 2026
Replay shows the defender never made meaningful contact and the offensive player overly-exaggerated the contact (flopped).
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Perry has recently favored footwear that exaggerates a familiar evening shape.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 13 June 2026
The case drew widespread attention because Dee Dee was suspected of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a form of abuse in which a caregiver exaggerates, fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 14 June 2026
Replay shows the defender never made meaningful contact and the offensive player overly-exaggerated the contact (flopped).
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026
Perry has recently favored footwear that exaggerates a familiar evening shape.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 13 June 2026
The case drew widespread attention because Dee Dee was suspected of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a form of abuse in which a caregiver exaggerates, fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
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The project in Boyle Heights would enhance bike lanes and pedestrian-level lighting and improve shading by planting more than 300 shade trees.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
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While making ergonomic improvements to the CJ4 Gen3 cabin, for instance, Citation added a glass cockpit that will enhance its reputation as the light-jet leader for single pilots.—
Michael Verdon,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The magnitude of World Cup games in Miami can hardly be overstated.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
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Last year, she was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for defrauding the bank by overstating the number of customers Frank had.—
Kif Leswing,
CNBC,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The Angels padded the advantage in the fifth inning when Jose Siri led off with a single, Zach Neto doubled and Vaughn Grissom followed with a two-run single to left.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2026
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Private fundraising has long been seen as a way to pad school budgets in wealthier communities, usually to pay for nice-to-haves, such as field trips and student clubs.—
Mila Koumpilova,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
Verb
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The trend is positive if approached with balance and proper technique, avoiding overdoing it.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
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When Your Lawn Needs Watering The first step is to not overdo it.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
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Taiwan’s indigenous people –– who nowadays make up just a tiny proportion of the island’s population –– are believed to be the ancestors of many of the groups who came to inhabit lands stretching from Hawaii and Easter Island in the eastern Pacific, to Madagascar, off the coast of east Africa.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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The perk here is that the material holds up to cold weather by stretching and expanding without breaking, requiring fewer repairs and resource use.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Verb
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The first showed him walking hand-in-hand with his sons, and the second showed Jack crouched down in a church pew as one of his sons played with toys, surrounded by coloring books and stickers.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
22 June 2026
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Over 150 brightly colored, lovingly detailed cars cruised down Capitol Mall on Sunday for the fourth annual Lowrider Holiday Celebration.—
HG BIGGS,
Sacbee.com,
22 June 2026
Verb
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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
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The whole world is overdrawn Washington’s problem looks almost manageable next to the global picture.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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