exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 
exaggerated; exaggerating
1
: to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate
a friend exaggerates a man's virtues—
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison2
: to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize
: to make an overstatement
Synonyms
Examples of exaggerate in a Sentence
The book exaggerates the difficulties he faced in starting his career.
It's impossible to exaggerate the importance of this discovery.
He tends to exaggerate when talking about his accomplishments.
He exaggerated his movements so we could see them more clearly.
Recent Examples on the Web
The levity in Ministry exaggerates our response to contemporary political violence that is not tongue-in-cheek (the ongoing harsh and uncivil lawfare).
—Armond White, National Review, 19 Apr. 2024
That work of drama vastly exaggerated the heroes and villains of the trial and the town.
—Lisa Grunwald, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
We were told about real-life events that informed the basis for certain episodic elements, and we were reminded that the mandate of the adult animation genre is to sensationalize and exaggerate realities.
—Kyle Bowser, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was ordered to pay $454 million for exaggerating the value of his real estate for years.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
As a wanted woman with a price on her head, which is to say, good copy, Nell’s character and exploits are twisted and exaggerated in the turn-of-the-18th century tabloid press, personified by the Fieldingesque publisher Lady Eularia Moggerhangar, played by Joely Richardson.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
He was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing Dee Dee, who Blanchard alleged had abused her for years as a victim of Munchausen by proxy, a form of child abuse that involves a guardian exaggerating or inducing illness to gain sympathy.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Nurse’s costumes aside, there’s nothing inherently false about these notes, which exaggerate the bewilderment and stress that many report experiencing during these procedures.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
The sweetheart neckline of the bodice was exaggerated by the pointed bust, which then narrowed at the waist before flowing into a drop waist skirt.
—Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
Armond White, National Review, 19 Apr. 2024
That work of drama vastly exaggerated the heroes and villains of the trial and the town.
—Lisa Grunwald, TIME, 12 Apr. 2024
We were told about real-life events that informed the basis for certain episodic elements, and we were reminded that the mandate of the adult animation genre is to sensationalize and exaggerate realities.
—Kyle Bowser, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was ordered to pay $454 million for exaggerating the value of his real estate for years.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
As a wanted woman with a price on her head, which is to say, good copy, Nell’s character and exploits are twisted and exaggerated in the turn-of-the-18th century tabloid press, personified by the Fieldingesque publisher Lady Eularia Moggerhangar, played by Joely Richardson.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
He was sentenced to life in prison for fatally stabbing Dee Dee, who Blanchard alleged had abused her for years as a victim of Munchausen by proxy, a form of child abuse that involves a guardian exaggerating or inducing illness to gain sympathy.
—Kc Baker, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Nurse’s costumes aside, there’s nothing inherently false about these notes, which exaggerate the bewilderment and stress that many report experiencing during these procedures.
—Amanda Hess, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
The sweetheart neckline of the bodice was exaggerated by the pointed bust, which then narrowed at the waist before flowing into a drop waist skirt.
—Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 8 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exaggerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near exaggerate
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggerate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈzaj-ə-ˌrāt
exaggerated; exaggerating
: to enlarge a fact or statement beyond what is actual or true
exaggeratedly
adverb
-ˌrāt-əd-lē
exaggeratedness
noun
-nəs
Etymology
from Latin exaggeratus "exaggerate," from exaggerare, literally, "to heap up"
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