Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

Thesaurus

exaggerate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of exaggerate

1 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 of exaggerate

color, elaborate (on), embellish, embroider, hyperbolize, magnify, pad, stretch
Words Related to exaggerate

dress up, gussy up

amplify, enhance, enlarge (on or upon), expand, flesh (out)

fudge, hedge

overdo, overdraw, overemphasize, overplay, overstate

emphasize, play up, stress

caricature

satirize
Near Antonyms of exaggerate

belittle, minimize, play down, understate
2 to describe or express in too strong terms
  • It would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam.
Synonyms of exaggerate

overdo, overdraw, overstate, put on
Words Related to exaggerate

color, elaborate, embellish, embroider, magnify, pad, play up, stretch

fudge, hedge

overemphasize, overplay, sensationalize
Near Antonyms of exaggerate

belittle, minimize, play down
Antonyms of exaggerate

understate

Learn More about exaggerate

  1. See words that rhyme with exaggerate Dictionary: Definition of exaggerate Spanish Central: Translation of exaggerate Nglish: Translation of exaggerate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exaggerate for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up exaggerate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games