WordValeexaggerate
to represent as greater than reality
In more detail
1. (verb) to describe something as being larger, greater, more serious, etc. than it really is
2. (verb) to make something seem more noticeable or extreme than it actually is
Examples
- 1. He exaggerated the size of the fish he caught.
- 2. The bright colors exaggerate the differences between the two designs.
How to use exaggerate
Exaggerate describes the act of deliberately or unconsciously making something seem bigger, worse, or more significant than reality. It often implies intentional distortion or at least a lack of restraint, though it can also describe unintentional misrepresentation. The term is more specific about degree of distortion than synonyms like embellish, which may focus more on adding details.
Common phrases
- exaggerate the truth
- exaggerate for effect
- greatly exaggerated
- exaggerate one's achievements
- exaggerate the importance of
Synonyms
overstate · overemphasize · magnify · inflate · embellish
Opposites
understate · downplay · minimize
Word family
exaggeration (noun) · exaggerated (adjective) · exaggeratedly (adverb) · exaggerator (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use exaggerate transitively with prepositions unnecessarily, as in 'exaggerate about' instead of the direct form 'exaggerate the facts'.
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