exaggerated
Americanadjective
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unduly or unrealistically magnified.
to have an exaggerated opinion of oneself.
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abnormally increased or enlarged.
adjective
-
unduly or excessively magnified; enlarged beyond truth or reasonableness
-
pathol abnormally enlarged
an exaggerated spleen
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exaggerated
First recorded in 1545–55; exaggerate + -ed 2
Explanation
Exaggerated describes something that's been overstated, or described as more impressive than it really is. Your exaggerated details stretched the truth, but they sure made your story funny and memorable. Something that is exaggerated is described as better or bigger than it actually is, like your exaggerated description of the terrible day you had. Exaggerated can also describe something that is oversized, like the exaggerated collar on a funky sweater. The original meaning of exaggerated, in the early 1500s, was "piled up or accumulated." To spell exaggerate correctly, think of bragger.
Vocabulary lists containing exaggerated
TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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"Fine?" Vocabulary from the short story
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The Pigman
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They suggest this may represent a medieval form of "fake news," or perhaps an exaggerated story intended to frighten people with warnings of divine punishment.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
"It may be being exaggerated a bit, but it's not new," Merz told talk show host Caren Miosga.
From Barron's • May 3, 2026
Bhojwani is among millions of Indians across big cities and small towns avidly watching micro-dramas, which mostly have cliched plots and exaggerated acting styles similar to Hindi TV soaps.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Experts say such calculations are almost always exaggerated and that the true numbers are difficult to pinpoint.
From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026
He looked up momentarily at his comrade from behind a staggering mountain of scrumptious food, and pointed to his leg, which was swathed in a hugely exaggerated bandage.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
