1
as in enhances
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 overstates
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
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Recent Examples of exaggerates
Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.
—
Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether or not The Bitch of Buchenwald did what is reenacted on the show isn’t relevant, because her activities are placed in the context of a comic book that exaggerates history to make a point — just like Monster does.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
Some critics have said that Costa exaggerates Malafaia’s influence.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
The fact that the company exaggerates the job numbers, as well as the true number of states where the plane produces a significant number of jobs does not alter the fact that economic arguments carry a lot of weight in Congressional decisions on weapons procurement.
—William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Mandel criticized the media for accepting Hamas’s claims at face value, which exaggerates the crisis and undermines non-Hamas aid efforts.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
Ari Ben Menashe, a onetime Israeli operative whom Israeli and American officials have said is a fabulist who vastly exaggerates and fabricates, claims to have run Epstein as an asset.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
Along the back seam, a row of curved metal spikes juts outward, giving the boot a clawed finish that exaggerates its shape with predatory edge.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether or not The Bitch of Buchenwald did what is reenacted on the show isn’t relevant, because her activities are placed in the context of a comic book that exaggerates history to make a point — just like Monster does.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
Some critics have said that Costa exaggerates Malafaia’s influence.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
The fact that the company exaggerates the job numbers, as well as the true number of states where the plane produces a significant number of jobs does not alter the fact that economic arguments carry a lot of weight in Congressional decisions on weapons procurement.
—William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Mandel criticized the media for accepting Hamas’s claims at face value, which exaggerates the crisis and undermines non-Hamas aid efforts.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
Ari Ben Menashe, a onetime Israeli operative whom Israeli and American officials have said is a fabulist who vastly exaggerates and fabricates, claims to have run Epstein as an asset.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
Along the back seam, a row of curved metal spikes juts outward, giving the boot a clawed finish that exaggerates its shape with predatory edge.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerates
Verb
-
The Cleveland ensemble thrives on this chamber-style approach, which enhances inner voices without emphasizing them unduly.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Garments construction enhances the story—from wave seams adding a sense of fluidity to structures to knots and twists altering shapes.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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First, the molds are cleaned and waxed, then the staff will review the work order to understand which colors the customer wants.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The survivors were scattered around the world, and even over a century later, the tragedy still colors their view of their ancestral region.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But Maura never overdoes the feisty granny bit.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That might be a regular thing for a few years, and then again once the Playoff inevitably expands.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
As the Universe expands, the volume increases, while the particle masses and the total number of particles remain the same.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
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Not to say there aren’t some clunkers, most notably a jokey take-me-out-to-the-ballgame baseball number that pads the second act, but the Flaherty-Ahrens score was and is Ragtime‘s signature achievement.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Texas Tech recently banned the throwing of tortillas onto the field during kickoffs, a practice that stretches back decades.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
The full line now stretches nearly six miles.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This magnifies the sense of your own power.—
Carolyn Dewar,
Big Think,
7 Oct. 2025
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This year, the moon and Mercury will be transiting the sign of Libra along with the sun, which magnifies themes of harmony, justice and connection.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerates. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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