hyperbole

[hahy-pur-buh-lee]

noun

Rhetoric.

1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.

2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

   Synonyms: overstatement
   Antonyms: understatement

hyperbole

/ haɪˈpɜːbəlɪ /

noun

1. a deliberate exaggeration used for effect

   he embraced her a thousand times

hyperbole

1. An exaggerated, extravagant expression. It is hyperbole to say, “I'd give my whole fortune for a bowl of bean soup.”

Other Word Forms

• hyperbolism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyperbole¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Greek hyperbolḗ “excess, exaggeration, a throwing beyond,” equivalent to hyper- hyper- + bolḗ “a throw”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hyperbole¹

C16: from Greek: from _hyper- + bolē a throw, from ballein to throw

Example Sentences

The prosecution's case that Earl had waged a "sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage" was described by Mr Hynes as hyperbole.

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Many of the tales of their early endeavors — including a 1936 test that ended with an oxygen line catching fire, creating, essentially, a flailing flame thrower — are now told in hyperbole, MacDonald noted.

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On social media, he employed his usual hyperbole, calling it a "historic and unprecedented event" and the "first steps toward a strong, durable and everlasting peace".

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It’s a one-man show that I can say without hyperbole is the best work he ever did.

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He did not indicate whether his statement was intended as a joke or hyperbole in its original context.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• hype 
• metaphor 
• overstatement www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What is hyperbole?

Hyperbole is an intentional, obvious exaggeration, such as I hit that dang piñata a million times before it broke.Hyperbole is not supposed to be taken literally. The reader or listener is supposed to know that the user of hyperbole is joking or not being serious, as in It took them forever to finally finish raking the leaves.The adjective form of hyperbole is hyperbolic, as in My grandfather often told me hyperbolic stories of walking 30 miles to go to school. The opposite of hyperbole is litotes, an intentional understatement, as in Leonardo da Vinci was not bad at painting.