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.

Gas prices can rise or fall very quickly and exaggerate the rate of inflation.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

Rumanes’ lawsuit describes a “culture of deception” at Live Nation, saying its “basic business model was to misstate and exaggerate financial figures in efforts to solicit and secure business.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

They include a picture of a gold and diamond watch which was clearly generated by AI, while the technology was also used to exaggerate damage to the back of a car.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

But the technology can also make basic factual mistakes in reviews, expose sensitive information, exaggerate praise or criticism, or come off as generic and impersonal, undermining the boss’s relationship with the employee.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

Harry had told me that Bach should be played very softly, and very loudly, to exaggerate the phrasing, because the pieces themselves are so ordered that the emotion needs to come through in the playing.

From "Confessions of a Murder Suspect" by James Patterson

Vocabulary lists containing exaggerate

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

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List 4

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