hyperbolic
Americanadjective
-
having the nature of hyperbole; exaggerated.
-
using hyperbole; exaggerating.
-
Mathematics.
-
of or relating to a hyperbola.
-
derived from a hyperbola, as a hyperbolic function.
-
adjective
-
of or relating to a hyperbola
-
rhetoric of or relating to a hyperbole
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hyperbolic
1640–50; hyperbole or hyperbol(a) + -ic
Explanation
If someone is hyperbolic, they tend to exaggerate things as being way bigger deals than they really are. Hyperbolic statements are tiny dogs with big barks: don’t take them too seriously. Hyperbolic is an adjective that comes from the word hyperbole, which means an exaggerated claim. The Greek root huperbolē means “excess,” and broken down even further the word literally translates as “throw above.” Imagine tossing a football to a friend, but you throw it way above their head and onto a roof. That’s an excess of throwing, and it’s not necessary, which is exactly what being hyperbolic is all about: making statements bigger than necessary.
Vocabulary lists containing hyperbolic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "H"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
This Week In Culture: February 8–14, 2020
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Every Day
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That may seem bit hyperbolic, but there is little doubt that TV outlets are looking for help as they navigate the upended media industry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
Burden’s words leapt from the page to hyperbolic social mythmaking of near financial ruin at the hands of a dastardly husband.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 21, 2026
That comparison might sound hyperbolic since Vietnam was a 20-year meat-grinder of a war that cost the lives of more than 50,000 Americans and something like 3.5 million Vietnamese, both troops and civilians.
From Salon ● Jun. 7, 2026
Previous studies published in Science and Nature Communications had already observed tightly confined light waves called hyperbolic plasmon polaritons traveling through the crystal.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 1, 2026
Some are clearly the work of nutjobs—clinically paranoid people who need professional help, not arenas in which to vent their hyperbolic conspiracy theories.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
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.
