exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 
exaggerated; exaggerating
1
: to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate
a friend exaggerates a man's virtues—
Joseph Addison
Joseph Addison2
: to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize
: to make an overstatement
Synonyms
Examples of exaggerate in a Sentence
The book exaggerates the difficulties he faced in starting his career.
It's impossible to exaggerate the importance of this discovery.
He tends to exaggerate when talking about his accomplishments.
He exaggerated his movements so we could see them more clearly.
Recent Examples on the Web
The seasonal adjustment process may be exaggerating January inflation, due to the lingering effects of earlier inflation surges on the adjustment process.
—Courtenay Brown, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025
State utilities, for instance, are likely exaggerating demand, according to a recent analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Content creators exaggerate stakes to make their content urgent and existential.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
This can exaggerate the spasms in your blood vessels.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for exaggerate 
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Courtenay Brown, Axios, 12 Feb. 2025
State utilities, for instance, are likely exaggerating demand, according to a recent analysis from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Content creators exaggerate stakes to make their content urgent and existential.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Feb. 2025
This can exaggerate the spasms in your blood vessels.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for exaggerate
Dictionary Entries Near exaggerate
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggerate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exaggerate
verb
ex·ag·ger·ate
ig-ˈzaj-ə-ˌrāt
exaggerated; exaggerating
: to enlarge a fact or statement beyond what is actual or true
exaggeratedly
adverb
-ˌrāt-əd-lē
exaggeratedness
noun
-nəs
Etymology
from Latin exaggeratus "exaggerate," from exaggerare, literally, "to heap up"
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