exaggerating

verb

present participle of exaggerate
1
as in padding
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 overstating
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 exaggerating But to imply that a world-class athlete is exaggerating an injury to preserve his reputation is a staggering lapse in judgment. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 South Korea’s military, which often accuses the North of exaggerating its military technologies, did not immediately comment on KCNA’s report. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Attorneys who represent officers that have sued the department over whistleblower retaliation dismiss the claim by Chief Jim McDonnell and others that some cops are exaggerating their claims in pursuit of a big payday. — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The South Korean military, which often accuses North Korea of exaggerating its military capabilities, did not immediately comment on Kim's claims. — Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026 Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 The hiring trust crisis is usually described as candidates exaggerating, the part background screening is built to catch. — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The financial affiliations have prompted speculation, especially through strands of the Iranian diaspora, who accuse some of its journalists of exaggerating the level of support for figures in the opposition and of advocating for war. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Thomas cautioned against exaggerating the power of AI agents, however. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerating
  1. padding
  2. overstating
  3. coloring
  4. overdoing
  5. enhancing
  6. stretching
  7. hyperbolizing
  8. expanding
Verb
  • This team has much bigger goals than padding their record against teams not expected to sniff the playoff picture this season.
    — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • From happy greetings at the door to the familiar sound of paws padding across the floor, our pets make a house feel even more like home.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of padding
Verb
  • Silence on a number could be the carrier or the agent vendor, and anyone claiming certainty about which is overstating what the data supports.
    — Satish Barot, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • He was accused of vastly overstating the number of meals when seeking payment for providing food.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of overstating
Verb
  • Somewhere today, a healthcare worker is coloring another tiny pinkie purple.
    — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The team revised Rotta’s face and coloring to bring him closer to Jabba while refining his muscular physique.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of coloring
Verb
  • The fun-size pieces are an easy way to enjoy most Halloween candy without overdoing it.
    — Jennifer Berger, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026
  • One of her concerns is layering products, which can easily lead to overdoing it on the actives.
    — Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of overdoing
Verb
  • The organization said the center will help further its mission of saving more lives, increasing its capacity to provide more adoptable animals to the public, and enhancing its ability to further its commitment to offering a no-kill shelter.
    — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The drone is equipped with advanced autonomous flight systems, and the platform enables operators to control multiple units simultaneously, enhancing mission efficiency and reducing manpower requirements.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of enhancing
Verb
  • Watkins scored 11 points during a decisive third quarter in which USC outscored UNLV 31-10, stretching a 52-39 halftime lead to 83-49.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The National Weather Service temperature outlook for the next three months shows the likelihood of above-average temperatures stretching from the Pacific Northwest, through the Upper Midwest and right through the Northeast.
    — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of stretching
Verb
  • Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Definition of hyperbolizing
Verb
  • Those options reportedly include tighter economic sanctions and expanding restrictions on Iranian trade.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • At a hearing last week, as Assembly committee discussed measures including eliminating the $750 million cap, allowing above-the-line expenses, expanding eligibility, and extending the sunset date.
    — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of expanding

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exaggerates
exaggerating
exaggeration
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Cite this Entry

“Exaggerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerating. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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