exaggerating

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.

Flooding can trigger sewage releases into rivers and estuaries, threatening wildlife with disease and toxic water, "exaggerating the number of wildlife death events".

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

In December, the California Department of Motor Vehicles found Tesla in violation of state law for exaggerating the capabilities of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” technology.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

Taxpayers shouldn’t be allowed to donate their old socks and claim that they were designer items, exaggerating the value of the deduction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

And so it is not outside the realm of possibility that Epstein was exaggerating or twisting the truth.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

“Maybe Coach was just exaggerating? Maybe Russ isn’t that good?”

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick