aggrandise
Definition
- Verb:
- To make something appear greater, more important, or more powerful than it really is, often by adding exaggerated details or embellishments.
Usage
The verb "aggrandise" is used to describe the act of enhancing the status, power, or reputation of someone or something, typically in an exaggerated or unwarranted manner. It often implies adding details that are not entirely accurate to create a more impressive image.
Examples
- Verb:
- The biographer tended to aggrandise the subject's early achievements, making them seem more significant.
- Politicians sometimes aggrandise their roles in past successes during campaigns.
- He aggrandised the story of his travels to make it more entertaining for his audience.
Advanced Usage
- "to aggrandise oneself": To enhance one's own power, status, or reputation.
- The leader used state media to aggrandise himself in the eyes of the public.
Variants and Related Words
- Aggrandisement (noun, chiefly British English): The act of aggrandising or the state of being aggrandised.
- The king sought personal aggrandisement through costly monuments.
- Aggrandize (verb, chiefly American English spelling): An alternative spelling of "aggrandise".
- The article sought to aggrandize the company's influence.
Synonyms
- Embellish: To make a story more interesting by adding details, often ones that are not true.
- Exaggerate: To represent something as being larger, better, or worse than it really is.
- Magnify: To make something seem more important or serious than it is.
- Glorify: To praise and honor someone or something, sometimes excessively.
Antonyms
- Belittle: To make a person or action seem less impressive or important.
- Minimize: To represent something as less important or significant than it is.
- Understate: To describe or represent something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.
Related Phrases
- Self-aggrandisement (noun): The action of enhancing one's own power, wealth, or status, typically in an exaggerated way.
- His speech was an exercise in self-aggrandisement.
Verb
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