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.

See Examples For:

exaggerating

The allegations in these indictments apparently are that they went beyond exaggerating the threats and actually supported these organizations to make them bigger threats so they could then monitor them or do whatever they did.

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

Some economists question if the pattern is repeating itself, thus exaggerating the improvement in the labor market.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

Conductors love to play “Pulcinella” for goofy laughs, exaggerating trombone glissandi and the like, relishing guffaws from the audience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

Like many historians, Ms. Fletcher warns against exaggerating the physical and psychological effect of gunpowder weapons upon indigenous peoples who were unfamiliar with such technology.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

She had to be exaggerating, he thought, but there was no flicker of humor in her face.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell