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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exaggerate
Slightly shimmering effects reflect light in a subtle way, bringing luminosity without being exaggerated; it can be glazed donut–style chrome, or for a more intense effect try a cat-eye finish.
—
Andrea Carbajal, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
Bosco’s attorneys argue Shaw was exaggerating the situation.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
But in other cases, Handala seems to have greatly exaggerated their hacking claims.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
The monitor’s team published a report in October that concluded the Sheriff’s Office had greatly exaggerated the cost.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Andrea Carbajal, Glamour, 31 Mar. 2026
Bosco’s attorneys argue Shaw was exaggerating the situation.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 27 Mar. 2026
But in other cases, Handala seems to have greatly exaggerated their hacking claims.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026
The monitor’s team published a report in October that concluded the Sheriff’s Office had greatly exaggerated the cost.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
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Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Barco notes that Lightsteering redistributes existing light instead of demand- ing more, enhancing contrast and brightness without consuming more energy (and adding to energy bills).—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And if there even was a reason for pause there, then don’t overstate the Heat.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Apr. 2026
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The contradiction runs so deep that 62% of those same executives privately concede that the risk of unsanctioned shadow AI is overstated compared to the risk of not leveraging AI at all.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What are those team managers doing with our bucks, padding their kids’ college funds?—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Apr. 2026
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As gas prices continue to cause consternation for many drivers, visiting the pump has padded the wallet of at least one person in Southern California.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That means proper cleaning and not overdoing frequency.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
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Soil with high nutrients can actually reduce cosmos blooms, so don’t overdo the fertilizer.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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The filthy talk of collusion, of course hyperbolized by Unsocial Media, again is crawling out of the swamp.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2023
Verb
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Much of Colorado’s growth is now concentrated in a belt of counties stretching from Weld down to Elbert and El Paso counties, temporarily bypassing Arapahoe, which had the state’s biggest population loss in raw numbers.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
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That expansion now stretches beyond content into areas like financial services and telecom, further increasing demands on his time.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The plum colored built-ins add lots of personality to the small space.—
Lindsey Mather,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
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Which colors merit entries in the dictionary?—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But like all bank accounts they can be overdrawn, though Mr. Edison has no fears for the safety of mankind along this line.—
Alex Knapp,
Forbes.com,
14 Feb. 2026
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Prosecutors are now looking at a financial accounts for the Walshe family, including an account overdrawn by about $800.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
2 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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