aggrandize

American  

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

especially British, aggrandise

verb (used with object)

aggrandized, aggrandizing

1. to widen in scope; increase in size or intensity; enlarge; extend.

   Antonyms:

   reduce

2. to make great or greater in power, wealth, rank, or honor.

   Synonyms:

   exalt, strengthen, inflate

   Antonyms:

   diminish

3. to make (something) appear greater.

   Synonyms:

   magnify

   Antonyms:

   minimize

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aggrandize British  

/ ˈæɡrənˌdaɪz, əˈɡrænˌdaɪz, əˈɡrændɪzmənt /

verb

1. to increase the power, wealth, prestige, scope, etc, of

2. to cause (something) to seem greater; magnify; exaggerate

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Other Word Forms

• aggrandizement
  noun
• aggrandizer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of aggrandize

1625–35; < French aggrandiss- (long stem of aggrandir to magnify), equivalent to ag- ag- + grand ( see grand) + -iss -ish ², irregular equated with -ize ( def. )

Explanation

If you are a window washer, but you refer to yourself as a "vista enhancement specialist," then you are aggrandizing your job title — that is, making it sound greater than it is. The verb aggrandize not only means "to make appear greater"; it can also be used to mean simply "to make greater." If you buy an estate and sink millions of dollars into its improvement, then you are actually aggrandizing the estate. If you are making yourself seem greater, then people may say you are "self-aggrandizing."