exaggerate

verb

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt How to pronounce exaggerate (audio)
Definition of exaggeratenext
1
as in to enhance
to add to the interest of by including made-up details the American colonist John Smith is believed by many historians to have exaggerated his adventures

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overstate
to describe or express in too strong terms it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exaggerate Reports of theater’s death have been exaggerated for generations. — Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026 The hiring trust crisis is usually described as candidates exaggerating, the part background screening is built to catch. — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 Brain injuries often impair a person’s abilities, but can sometimes enhance or exaggerate cognitive function. — Michael P.h. Stanley, STAT, 10 Sep. 2026 The brothers' lawyers have argued that the two have exaggerated their wealth as part of their public personas and should be released on bond. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
  1. enhance
  2. overstate
  3. pad
  4. overdo
  5. hyperbolize
  6. stretch
  7. color
  8. overdraw
Verb
  • Additionally, existing chains are likely to respond by upgrading facilities, expanding loyalty perks and enhancing prepared food options.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The military exemption in South Korea also applies to classical and traditional musicians, dancers and other artists who are viewed as enhancing national pride.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Cory Harris, a lobbyist for state-legal cannabis operators, suggested that dire predictions about its effect on the intoxicating hemp industry are overstated.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Translating the team’s shooting numbers into a claim about Reese personally shutting down opponents overstates what those numbers establish.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of overstate
Verb
  • Just Douglas padding around in his socks, still as slim, handsome, and charming as ever.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The sort that wear padded, deep blue gilets with crisp white shirts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of pad
Verb
  • Experts say to avoid washing darks with linty fabrics, overdoing the detergent and using the heavy-duty wash cycle, among other tips.
    — Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Work within the context of your activity’s demands without overdoing it.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of overdo
Verb
  • Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.
    — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
  • The filthy talk of collusion, of course hyperbolized by Unsocial Media, again is crawling out of the swamp.
    — Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2023
Definition of hyperbolize
Verb
  • The move will put the mobile coastal weapon closer to Taiwan than during its previous deployment in Japan and comes as Washington and Tokyo expand their ability to operate in the islands stretching toward the Taiwan Strait.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The shoe takes visual cues from a tennis net stretched by impact into consideration, creating a design that feels fluid.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • But many of the implications of Khot’s original conjecture already followed from this 4-to-1 version — most notably, a new result about the difficulty of a classic graph-coloring problem that predates Khot’s work by decades.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The result is that her whole novel is colored by a sense of irresolution.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of color
Verb
  • No fee if the transaction is $5 or less or your account is overdrawn by $20 or less.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Slightly overdraw the cupid’s bow and the center of your bottom lip — but leave the corners alone.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 29 July 2026
Definition of overdraw

Browse Nearby Words

exacts
exaggerate
exaggerated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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