exaggerate

[ig-zaj-uh-reyt]

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verb (used with object), ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.

to employ exaggeration, as in speech or writing: a person who is always exaggerating.

Origin of exaggerate

1525–35; < Latin exaggerātus (past participle of exaggerāre heap up), equivalent to ex- ex-¹ + agger heap + -ātus -ate¹

Related formsex·ag·ger·at·ing·ly, adverbex·ag·ger·a·tor, nounnon·ex·ag·ger·at·ing, adjectiveo·ver·ex·ag·ger·ate, verb, o·ver·ex·ag·ger·at·ed, o·ver·ex·ag·ger·at·ing.un·ex·ag·ger·at·ing, adjective

Synonyms for exaggerate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR exaggerate ON THESAURUS.COM

1. embellish, amplify, embroider. 2. inflate.

Antonyms for exaggerate

1. minimize.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for exaggerating

overdo, magnify, fabricate, distort, emphasize, inflate, misrepresent, heighten, falsify, amplify, overdraw, overestimate, overemphasize, pyramid, scam, color, corrupt, fudge, lie, caricature

Examples from the Web for exaggerating

Contemporary Examples of exaggerating

Subjectivity and exaggerating the foibles or bad reasoning of the opposition in political coverage was the norm.
What Lincoln Could Teach Fox News
Scott Porch
November 6, 2014
Both politicians and the media, by exaggerating the claims of only certain studies, are exacerbating the problem.
Another Hazy Week For Weed
Abby Haglage
September 1, 2014
Because when it comes to the media, exaggerating fear is an old trick.
Breaking: Trend Stories Are Bullsh*t
Bonnie Bertram
April 8, 2014
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.
Are Opponents of Arizona's Anti-Gay Law Eager to Deceive?
Kirsten Powers
March 3, 2014

Historical Examples of exaggerating

"Now, Emma, there again you are exaggerating," rejoined Tom.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII. No. 3. March 1848
Various
The history of psychiatry and sorcery proves that we are not exaggerating.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
To think that the evening before they accused her at the Boches' of exaggerating the picture!
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
And then came the buying of the presents, confirming the reports and exaggerating them.
Doctor Pascal
Emile Zola
Exaggerating the humiliation of that day, he thought his influence in the island was gone.
The Manxman
Hall Caine

British Dictionary definitions for exaggerating

exaggerate

verb

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

Derived Formsexaggeratingly, adverbexaggeration, nounexaggerative or exaggeratory, adjectiveexaggerator, noun

Word Origin for exaggerate

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for exaggerating

exaggerate

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.