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 The real Tyrone might not have understood why Bourdain exaggerated the story, but Johnson seems to. — Mike Miller, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 How Candidates Are Using AI to Cheat Generative AI tools allow candidates to rewrite resumes to match job descriptions, exaggerate experience, and present skills convincingly regardless of actual proficiency. — Kara Dennison, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Hair loss from shock was one that occurred and exaggerated his past concerns about his hairline. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 Ed Yohnka, spokesman for Illinois chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said Flock has, in some cases, exaggerated how the technology contributes to public safety. — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 14 Aug. 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
  • Meta agreed to impose changes including a default two-hour daily time limit for teens across Facebook and Instagram, muted notifications during school hours, and enhanced parental controls, with more updates potentially on the horizon.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Leaders must prioritize building cognitive and identity infrastructure, focusing on *how* people think and their self-authorship, ensuring AI enhances human judgment rather than standardizing it.
    — Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of enhance
Verb
  • Deloitte pins the unimagined cascade effect at an additional $541 billion and did not add it to the final estimate to avoid overstating the size of the lunar economy.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Kiyosaki may also have overstated Kimi’s importance in his life.
    — Christopher Cox, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of overstate
Verb
  • This design helps the pillow stay in place without shifting and many even include a backrest and padded arms.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Jones, the former Apple exec who recently re-joined Amazon, padded out the programming wish list.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pad
Verb
  • But Montgomery cautions against overdoing it with vinegar as a weed control method.
    — Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 22 Aug. 2026
  • From two-tone cardigans for dinner and straw hats for family beach days to her signature breezy button-downs, Markle’s getaway style is a master class in looking polished without overdoing it.
    — Amanda Le, InStyle, 13 Aug. 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 may mark more than another bout of bond-market volatility, with consequences stretching across economies and financial markets.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Its low-profile frame looks clean and modern, while deep seats give you plenty of room to read, watch, or stretch out.
    — Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of stretch
Verb
  • Nor is Gadot a performer inclined to lend much more than athleticism to a role that could use some warmth and idiosyncrasy to color its rather generic action-hero gist.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Johns also colored her hair shortly before her secret September 1996 wedding to Kennedy.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 1 Sep. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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