hyperbole

American  

[hahy-pur-buh-lee] / haɪˈpɜr bə li /

noun

Rhetoric.

1. obvious and intentional exaggeration.

2. an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”

   Synonyms:

   overstatement

   Antonyms:

   understatement

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hyperbole British  

/ haɪˈpɜːbəlɪ /

noun

1. a deliberate exaggeration used for effect

   he embraced her a thousand times

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hyperbole Cultural  

1. An exaggerated, extravagant expression. It is hyperbole to say, “I'd give my whole fortune for a bowl of bean soup.”

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Usage

What is hyperbole? Hyperbole is an intentional, obvious exaggeration, such as I hit that dang piñata a million times before it broke. Hyperbole is not supposed to be taken literally. The reader or listener is supposed to know that the user of hyperbole is joking or not being serious, as in It took them forever to finally finish raking the leaves. The adjective form of hyperbole is hyperbolic, as in My grandfather often told me hyperbolic stories of walking 30 miles to go to school. The opposite of hyperbole is litotes, an intentional understatement, as in Leonardo da Vinci was not bad at painting.

Other Word Forms

• hyperbolism noun

Etymology

Origin of hyperbole

First recorded in 1520–30; from Greek hyperbolḗ “excess, exaggeration, a throwing beyond,” equivalent to hyper- hyper- + bolḗ “a throw”

Explanation

Praising your favorite sports team is one thing, but if you call the team the most incredible group of humans ever to walk the earth, then you're going overboard and indulging in hyperbole. The hyper- in hyperbole means "beyond," so it's a good sign that the word has to do with going above and beyond what's necessary. Someone who gets hyperactive about something and ends up hyperventilating (breathing too hard) might be prone to the exaggerated style of speaking known as hyperbole. If you find yourself talking about the absolutely best (or worst) thing of all time, it's time to take it down a notch and cut down on the hyperbole.

Example Sentences

“The sheer dominance displayed is not hyperbole, it is the truth, and it will continue,” Kelly said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

But this is the season of hyperbole, so the Dodgers still have a chance to go 194-0 between the Cactus League and the regular season.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

He later defended his comments and said that he had been using hyperbole to make a point, adding that he disavowed racists and that media reports had ignored the context of his comments.

From BBC • Jan. 13, 2026

Depending on his mood, he might wave it away as campaign hyperbole.

From Slate • Dec. 8, 2025

At every Gregarious Games press conference, Morrow grinned infectiously from behind his unruly beard and wire-rimmed spectacles, using his natural gift for hype and hyperbole.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• hype
• metaphor
• overstatement