Synonyms of exaggerate

exaggerate 1 of 3

verb (1)

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 

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

• enhance
• pad
• hyperbolize
• color
• embellish
• expand
• magnify
• embroider
• stretch
• elaborate (on)
• emphasize
• satirize
• amplify
• overstate
• overemphasize
• overdo
• enlarge (on or upon)
• stress
• flesh (out)
• overdraw
• overplay
• hedge
• caricature
• play up
• fudge
• dress up
• gussy up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimize
• understate
• belittle
• play down

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

• overstate
• overdo
• pad
• stretch
• overdraw
• elaborate
• put on
• embellish
• embroider
• overemphasize
• magnify
• color
• play up
• sensationalize
• overplay
• hedge
• fudge
• melodramatize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understate
• minimize
• belittle
• play down

exaggerated

2 of 3

adjective

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-təd 

as in inflated

extended beyond normal or realistic bounds

loves the exaggerated emotions that are part and parcel of grand opera

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inflated
• overblown
• outsized
• hyperbolized
• overdrawn
• bloated
• outsize
• enlarged
• overstated
• magnified
• elaborated
• stretched
• padded
• embellished
• overweening
• overemphasized
• unrealistic
• unreasonable
• embroidered
• overplayed
• grandiose
• unreal
• overdone
• preposterous
• hyped-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• realistic

exaggerated

3 of 3

verb (2)

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• padded
• colored
• enhanced
• hyperbolized
• embellished
• expanded
• embroidered
• stretched
• elaborated (on)
• magnified
• satirized
• emphasized
• amplified
• overstated
• stressed
• overemphasized
• enlarged (on or upon)
• caricatured
• fleshed (out)
• hedged
• overplayed
• gussied up
• overdid
• fudged
• dressed up
• played up
• overdrew

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimized
• understated
• belittled
• played down

2

as in overstated

to describe or express in too strong terms

it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overstated
• padded
• stretched
• elaborated
• overdid
• put on
• embellished
• embroidered
• overdrew
• colored
• overemphasized
• magnified
• sensationalized
• hedged
• played up
• fudged
• overplayed
• melodramatized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understated
• minimized
• belittled
• played down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exaggerate

Verb

And because it’s tinted, there’s no white cast—just a soft-focus finish that doesn’t exaggerate texture or fine lines. —Iman Balagam, Vogue, 9 May 2025

Born Hillary Lynn Hayward-Thomas in Boston, the former yoga teacher was accused of exaggerating her Spanish heritage after it was uncovered on social media in 2020. —Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2025

Adjective

But under cross-examination, a witness with key new evidence for the state revealed what appears to be an exaggerated resume. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2025

Additionally, the exaggerated length of Holmes’s pants—her hems drag on the ground—completes the complicated, but effective, look. —Ana Serrano, Glamour, 19 May 2025