aggrandize

[ uh-gran-dahyz, ag-ruhn-dahyz ]
/ əˈgræn daɪz, ˈæg rənˌdaɪz /

verb (used with object), ag·gran·dized, ag·gran·diz·ing.

to widen in scope; increase in size or intensity; enlarge; extend.
to make great or greater in power, wealth, rank, or honor.
to make (something) appear greater.

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Also especially British, ag·gran·dise.

Origin of aggrandize

1625–35; < French aggrandiss- (long stem of aggrandir to magnify), equivalent to ag- ag- + grand (see grand) + -iss -ish2, irregular equated with -ize

SYNONYMS FOR aggrandize

2 inflate, strengthen, exalt.
3 magnify.

ANTONYMS FOR aggrandize

1 reduce.
2 diminish.
3 minimize.

OTHER WORDS FROM aggrandize

ag·gran·dize·ment [uh-gran-diz-muhnt] /əˈgræn dɪz mənt/, nounag·gran·diz·er [uh-gran-dahy-zer, ag-ruhndahy-] /əˈgræn daɪ zər, ˈægˌrəndaɪ-/, noun

Words nearby aggrandize

agglutinin, agglutinogen, agglutinophilic, agglutogen, aggrade, aggrandize, aggrandizement, aggravate, aggravated, aggravated trespass, aggravating
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for aggrandise

British Dictionary definitions for aggrandise

aggrandize

aggrandise

/ (ˈæɡrənˌdaɪz, əˈɡrænˌdaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to increase the power, wealth, prestige, scope, etc, of
to cause (something) to seem greater; magnify; exaggerate

Derived forms of aggrandize

aggrandizement or aggrandisement (əˈɡrændɪzmənt), nounaggrandizer or aggrandiser, noun

Word Origin for aggrandize

C17: from Old French aggrandiss-, long stem of aggrandir to make bigger, from Latin grandis grand; the ending -ize is due to the influence of verbs ending in -ise, -ize
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012