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.

Adding to the confusion is a recent University of Michigan study suggesting that the gloves worn by researchers may exaggerate results.

From Slate • Apr. 16, 2026

John Davies, from the Insurance Fraud Bureau, said "opportunistic" customers were using AI to exaggerate genuine claims.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Fast-growing options markets exaggerate the price moves in both directions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Sometimes inventories and trade balances can exaggerate the ups and downs in GDP, but that wasn’t the case in the fourth quarter.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 20, 2026

“I exaggerate, perhaps. The American, Hardman, and the German maid—yes, they have added something to our knowledge. That is to say, they have made the whole business more unintelligible than it was.”

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie

Vocabulary lists containing exaggerate

Tier 2 Words for the SBAC ELA Items

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List 4

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