exaggerates

verb

present tense third-person singular of exaggerate
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

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 exaggerates Armour points to two recent plays, one involving Chelsea Gray and another involving Kiah Stokes, as proof that Clark exaggerates contact and creates false narratives about opposing players. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026 The best place to start is a sporting culture that exaggerates accomplishments and rewards capitalistic success before the sporting variety. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 One sure focus is the rampant grade inflation that exaggerates student achievement and has made graduating high school close to meaningless as an indicator of college preparedness. — U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026 Drama hides a hero’s flaws; comedy exaggerates it. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 25 June 2026 Tristan Baker, head of performance at Go Perform, an athletics performance and coaching facility, and a former strength and conditioning coach at Reading, believes a still photograph exaggerates how unstable the movement appears. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 17 June 2026 Perry has recently favored footwear that exaggerates a familiar evening shape. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 13 June 2026 The case drew widespread attention because Dee Dee was suspected of having Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a form of abuse in which a caregiver exaggerates, fabricates or induces illness in someone under their care. — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Dehydration exaggerates creases and makes skin look less supple. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerates
  1. enhances
  2. overstates
  3. colors
  4. overdoes
  5. expands
  6. pads
  7. embellishes
  8. stretches
Verb
  • Packed with potent ingredients like isopropyl cloprostenate, amino acids, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, this formula nurtures and enhances your brows from the root.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Gay, who is borderline to make the 53-man roster even with a high number of LB injuries, has seen his special teams participation increase recently, which enhances his chances of making the final roster.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of enhances
Verb
  • And the wide gap between affluent boomers versus the rest of their peers means the average $515,000 per-household amount overstates what most millennials and Gen Xers will actually receive.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Concerns are overblown Economists told CNBC that the comparison with Japan overstates the immediate danger.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 24 July 2026
Definition of overstates
Verb
  • That history still colors how the company talks, less like a supplement label and more like a couple of people who have been through it.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • This four-part series was made by people who love Burning Man, which definitely colors the doc — but at least the first episode shows the place off pretty well.
    — David Pierce, The Verge, 11 July 2026
Definition of colors
Verb
  • Her direction here wisely emphasizes the actors, and possibly overdoes it with the mirrors — lotta symbolically reflective surfaces and isolating frames within frames — but there’s never the sensation that the person behind the camera is winging it.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026
  • Alexander’s staging occasionally overdoes the comic exuberance.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Definition of overdoes
Verb
  • Hydropower capacity expands China has continued adding hydropower capacity as part of its broader clean-energy expansion.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Based on the legend of the Chinese goddess Chang’e, this book reimagines and expands the myth to center her daughter, Xingyin, who flees her home and embarks on a bold adventure to save her mother while training in enemy territory.
    — Chloe Gong, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of expands
Verb
  • In other words, the additional money that our companies are shelling out to cover higher memory costs ultimately pads these three companies’ bottom lines.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 21 June 2026
  • Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book.
    — Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Definition of pads
Verb
  • The material also embellishes the interior, where the center armrest, speaker covers, window buttons, and gear shift are among the areas of application.
    — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
  • It’s also been cited as what’s wrong with basketball, as he’s been labeled a player who embellishes contact, resulting in opportunities at the free-throw line.
    — Jason Jones, New York Times, 24 May 2026
Definition of embellishes
Verb
  • Lyonnes and Washington Spirit of the NWSL, Kang’s influence stretches across the global game, but it cannot be escaped that Putellas has dropped down from the highest level with this move.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • But 160 Leroy portends a future that stretches the definition of what constitutes New York living into hitherto-unknown territory.
    — Bridget Read, Curbed, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of stretches

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exaggerates
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Cite this Entry

“Exaggerates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerates. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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