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.

Some of the decline in January was exaggerated by a 9.8% output fall in Ireland, whose economy is particularly volatile due to being a base for large multinational firms.

From The Wall Street Journal

U.S. exports rose 5.5% in January to a record $302.1 billion, but the increase was exaggerated by another large outflow of gold and other precious metals.

From MarketWatch

But some economists caution that temporary factors such as weather disruptions and labor strikes may have exaggerated the weakness.

From Barron's

Greg, clueless about just how politically incorrect he can be without even trying, gets chastised several times, though the circumstances are deliberately exaggerated.

From The Wall Street Journal

Our setting is 1936 Chicago, but this is an exaggerated, fictional world, not ours or even Karloff’s.

From Los Angeles Times

exaggerate

Example Sentences

Related Words