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 sapphire hues in the Voyager 2 mission photos were exaggerated by image processing to showcase the swirling cloud patterns more prominently.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
It's widely believed that Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a rare form of abuse in which a guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for sympathy and attention.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
Someone will exaggerate a situation or feeling to grab your attention or lead you astray.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
As in 2020, Trump’s playbook in Pennsylvania involves exaggerating and mischaracterizing any irregularities around the state’s election to bolster claims of widespread fraud.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for exaggerate 
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Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024
It's widely believed that Blanchard was a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy; a rare form of abuse in which a guardian exaggerates or induces illness in a child for sympathy and attention.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 16 Oct. 2024
Someone will exaggerate a situation or feeling to grab your attention or lead you astray.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2024
As in 2020, Trump’s playbook in Pennsylvania involves exaggerating and mischaracterizing any irregularities around the state’s election to bolster claims of widespread fraud.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024
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 26 Nov. 2024.
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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