exaggerate
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/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/
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An act of overstating the truth, or of making a feature or effect seem larger, stronger, or more noticeable than normal.
Examples
Dark eyeliner can exaggerate the shape of the eyes.
The comedian exaggerated the audience's reaction for comic effect.
Kids often exaggerate the size of the fish they caught.
The low camera angle exaggerates his height.
Do not exaggerate the problem just to win support.
Similar words
stretch
emphasize
overplay
magnify
accentuate
embellish
heighten
magnify
inflate
amplifyMeanings
Examples
She exaggerates the story to make it funnier.
The report exaggerated the risks involved.
He tends to exaggerate his achievements during interviews.
Kids often exaggerate the size of the fish they caught.
The comedian exaggerated the audience's reaction for comic effect.
Do not exaggerate the problem just to win support.
Similar words
overstate
magnify
inflate
embellish
overplay
hyperbolize
stretch
Examples
The wide belt exaggerated the narrowness of the dress.
The low camera angle exaggerates his height.
Dark eyeliner can exaggerate the shape of the eyes.
The cartoonist exaggerated the mayor's smile.
The lighting exaggerated every line on the wall.
Similar words
accentuate
emphasize
magnify
heighten
amplifyoveremphasize
Etymology
From Latin exaggerāre, meaning to heap up, increase, or magnify, through its past participle exaggerātus.
FAQ
What does exaggerate mean?
Exaggerate means to describe something as bigger or more extreme than it is, or to make a feature look stronger than normal.
Is exaggerate the same as lying?
Not always. Exaggerate can mean stretching the truth for effect, while lying means saying something known to be false.
Can a design or picture exaggerate something?
Yes. A design, camera angle, drawing, or light can exaggerate a feature by making it look larger or more noticeable.
What is the past tense of exaggerate?
The past tense and past participle are exaggerated.
What are synonyms of exaggerate?
Common synonyms include overstate, inflate, magnify, embellish, and overplay.
What is the opposite of exaggerate?
Common opposites include understate, downplay, minimize, and soften, depending on the context.
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