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
• 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

Over 80 million American adults hide their religious disbelief or exaggerate their faith. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Standard laboratory models greatly exaggerated the actual performance of liquid thermogalvanic cells. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026

Adjective

The team’s 23-year-old in-house expert in men’s tailoring, Mario Vidal, also cut Carlos’s jackets to be wide on the shoulders and tight at the waist, adding further drama with exaggerated lapels. — Elaina Patton, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026

In a series of TikTok videos made yesterday, North West debuted an exaggerated prosthetic chin and slick-black bob, tagging the Bad Girls star. — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026

Verb

As for the constant chatter about the unwelcome safety tech, Roma said the objections may be exaggerated. — Morgan Korn, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026

Reports of theater’s death have been exaggerated for generations. — Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026