exaggerated 1 of 2

adjective

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-təd How to pronounce exaggerated (audio)
Definition of exaggeratednext
as in inflated
extended beyond normal or realistic bounds loves the exaggerated emotions that are part and parcel of grand opera

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exaggerated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of exaggerate
1
as in padded
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overstated
to describe or express in too strong terms it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

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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 exaggerated
Adjective
To [React with exaggerated surprise] is to DO A DOUBLE TAKE — as in, to take out double letters (not consecutive ones, mind you). — Sam Corbin, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2026 The aim is to influence perceptions of democracy through exaggerated narratives of instability, crime, ethnic and religious rifts, and divisions with the West. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
Reports of theater’s death have been exaggerated for generations. — Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 Most conversations about hiring trust start and end with catching who exaggerated. — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exaggerated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerated
  1. inflated
  2. padded
  3. overstated
  4. colored
  5. stretched
  6. enhanced
  7. elaborated
  8. embellished
Adjective
  • The boxes allegedly cost substantially less to produce, allowing the conspirators to use the inflated prices to finance bribes and divert government funds.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
  • As a result, conventional estimates produced inflated efficiency values that failed to reflect actual device behavior under operating conditions.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of inflated
Verb
  • The sort that wear padded, deep blue gilets with crisp white shirts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Some of the contracts appear to have been padded to pay bribes to Diamantis.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of padded
Verb
  • Trump said in January that the DOJ was investigating Omar after an accounting mistake on financial disclosures overstated her husband’s assets.
    — Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026
  • California’s unemployment rate remains among the highest in the country, and the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office has warned that early-2026 job growth may have been overstated.
    — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of overstated
Verb
  • And 1014 Gallery’s show of Vincent Wechselberger’s handprints, documenting the hedonism and tenderness that have colored a decade of the photographer’s life in Berlin, is reason enough for a Dalston detour.
    — Mahoro Seward, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026
  • People’s responses were also colored by everyone suddenly having lawyers and managers and agents, wives, husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, friends.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of colored
Verb
  • With the militia stretched thin, Riyadh sees an opportunity to defeat it or force it back to negotiations.
    — Faisal J. Abbas, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • By Wednesday afternoon, the line for visitor passes to get on base for the ship’s homecoming stretched several hundred feet, snaking across the lawn in front of the building and doubling back on itself.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretched
Verb
  • Lovato’s dress, courtesy of Fanci Club, was a deep shade of eggplant purple and topped off with a scarlet-red lace bralette, making for a brazen club-friendly outfit only enhanced by the even more noticeable shoes.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Coastal flooding impacts on Sunday could be similar to other days, or greatly enhanced.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhanced
Verb
  • Guadagnino elaborated on his feelings about AI during the Q&A.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In opening statements, prosecutors elaborated on that claim, saying Weinberg also traded on stories and pictures of his three children, presenting himself as a loving father looking for an outlet for his creative passion as an amateur shutterbug.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of elaborated
Verb
  • Beyond denim, sweatshirts were embellished with oversized gemstones and vintage and designer brooches decorated corduroy Trucker jackets.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The column began with Google’s Sundar Pichai, who set down a fluid stroke, embellished with two horizontal lines, two dots and a dash.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of embellished

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Cite this Entry

“Exaggerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerated. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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