exaggerate
[ig-zaj-uh-reyt]
- to magnify beyond the limits of truth; overstate; represent disproportionately: to exaggerate the difficulties of a situation.
- to increase or enlarge abnormally: Those shoes exaggerate the size of my feet.
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- to employ exaggeration, as in speech or writing: a person who is always exaggerating.
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Origin of exaggerate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
1. minimize.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
overdomagnifyfabricatedistortemphasizeinflatemisrepresentheightenfalsifyamplifyoverdrawoverestimateoveremphasizepyramidscamcolorcorruptfudgeliecaricatureExamples from the Web for exaggerating
Contemporary Examples
Subjectivity and exaggerating the foibles or bad reasoning of the opposition in political coverage was the norm.
Both politicians and the media, by exaggerating the claims of only certain studies, are exacerbating the problem.
Because when it comes to the media, exaggerating fear is an old trick.
Science fiction tends to reflect reality, exaggerating it to make a point.
Hollywood's Obsession With Hillary Clinton-Like Villains, From 'Divergent' to 'The Hunger Games'Andrew Romano
March 21, 2014
Anyone who was upset about it was exaggerating its potential impact.
Historical Examples
"Now, Emma, there again you are exaggerating," rejoined Tom.
The history of psychiatry and sorcery proves that we are not exaggerating.
The Sexual QuestionAugust Forel
To think that the evening before they accused her at the Boches' of exaggerating the picture!
L'AssommoirEmile Zola
And then came the buying of the presents, confirming the reports and exaggerating them.
Doctor PascalEmile Zola
Exaggerating the humiliation of that day, he thought his influence in the island was gone.
The ManxmanHall Caine
exaggerate
- to regard or represent as larger or greater, more important or more successful, etc, than is true
- (tr) to make greater, more noticeable, etc, than usualhis new clothes exaggerated his awkwardness
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin exaggerāre to magnify, from aggerāre to heap, from agger heap
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for exaggerating
exaggerate
v.
1530s, "to pile up, accumulate," from Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare "heighten, amplify, magnify," literally "to heap, pile, load, fill," from ex- "thoroughly" (see ex-) + aggerare "heap up," from agger (genitive aggeris) "heap," from aggerere "bring together, carry toward," from ad- "to, toward" + gerere "carry" (see gest). Sense of "overstate" first recorded in English 1560s. Related: Exaggerated; exaggerating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper