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Definitions

exaggerate

[ig-zaj-uh-reyt] / ɪgˈzædʒ əˌreɪt /
VERB
overstate, embellish
Synonyms
STRONGEST
amplify distort emphasize fabricate falsify heighten inflate magnify misrepresent overdo overdraw overemphasize overestimate
STRONG
boast boost brag caricature color corrupt embroider enlarge exalt expand fudge hike hyperbolize intensify lie misquote pad puff pyramid romance romanticize scam stretch up
WEAK
blow out of proportion build up cook up go to extremes lay it on thick loud talk make too much of misreport pretty up put on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compress contract decrease ignore lessen play down
STRONG
abridge be modest deprecate lower reduce shrink
WEAK
depreciate minimize understate

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.

You can’t exaggerate how important television was in the making of this man, and I don’t mean “The Apprentice,” I mean those old movies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

There is no way to exaggerate the danger of this moment.

From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026

Flat Mercator-projection maps, like the one Lauder showed Trump, exaggerate the size of landmasses near the Earth’s north and south poles.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2026

"It's important not to exaggerate the collapse of public faith in the BBC," insisted Dan Hind, an author focusing on media and democracy.

From Barron's • Nov. 15, 2025

I don’t want to exaggerate, but the SnowCap Melter was the greatest thing anyone has ever eaten in the history of the world.

From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.