Synonyms of exaggerating

exaggerating

verb

present participle of exaggerate

1

as in padding

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

• padding
• coloring
• enhancing
• hyperbolizing
• expanding
• embellishing
• stretching
• embroidering
• satirizing
• elaborating (on)
• magnifying
• emphasizing
• overstating
• stressing
• amplifying
• overdoing
• overemphasizing
• enlarging (on or upon)
• overplaying
• hedging
• caricaturing
• fudging
• fleshing (out)
• overdrawing
• playing up
• gussying up
• dressing up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimizing
• belittling
• understating
• playing down

2

as in overstating

to describe or express in too strong terms

it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overstating
• overdoing
• padding
• stretching
• overdrawing
• elaborating
• putting on
• embroidering
• embellishing
• coloring
• overemphasizing
• playing up
• hedging
• magnifying
• sensationalizing
• fudging
• overplaying
• melodramatizing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimizing
• understating
• belittling
• playing down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exaggerating

The South Korean military, which often accuses North Korea of exaggerating its military capabilities, did not immediately comment on Kim's claims. — Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026

Several attack ads on Talarico, launched by Republican political action committees, have focused on his past support for transgender youth and accused him of exaggerating his faith to garner the Christian vote. — Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026

Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 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

The financial affiliations have prompted speculation, especially through strands of the Iranian diaspora, who accuse some of its journalists of exaggerating the level of support for figures in the opposition and of advocating for war. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026

Thomas cautioned against exaggerating the power of AI agents, however. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Washington has a history of exaggerating the competitive threat from rivals, whether that was the Soviet Union or Japan. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Kennedy has also sought to personally reform the agency’s vaccine policy, firing all 17 of its vaccine advisers and replacing them with his own picks, many of whom have questioned the benefit of vaccines while exaggerating their harms. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026