aggrandizement

/ə'grændizmənt/

Thân thiện

The king's aggrandizement was marked by a grand new palace.

Definition

Noun: 1. The act of making something greater in size, power, importance, or reputation: It refers to the process of increasing the wealth, prestige, power, or scope of something or someone, often in a deliberate and conspicuous way. 2. The act of exaggerating or embellishing something: It can also refer to making something appear greater or more significant than it really is, often through description.

Usage and Examples

• The primary goal of the empire's foreign policy was territorial aggrandizement.
• He was accused of seeking personal aggrandizement rather than the public good.
• The biography was criticized for its aggrandizement of the subject's early achievements, ignoring his failures.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Self-aggrandizement: This is a very common collocation. It specifically refers to the act of enhancing one's own power, wealth, or status, typically in a way perceived as boastful or excessive.
  • His speech was an exercise in self-aggrandizement, focusing solely on his own accomplishments.
• The word often carries a negative or critical connotation, implying that the increase is sought for selfish reasons, is unjustified, or is achieved through questionable means.

Variants and Related Words

• Aggrandize (verb): To increase the power, status, or wealth of.
  • The king sought to aggrandize his kingdom through conquest.
• Aggrandizer (noun): A person who aggrandizes.

Synonyms

• Enhancement: The act of increasing or improving the quality, value, or extent of something.
• Exaltation: The action of elevating someone in rank, power, or character.
• Elevation: The act of raising to a higher position or status.
• Amplification: The action of enlarging upon or adding detail to a story or statement.
• Exaggeration: A statement that represents something as better or worse than it really is.

Antonyms

• Diminishment: The act of making something smaller or less important.
• Humiliation: The action of making someone feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and pride.
• Reduction: The action of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something
   • the aggrandizement of the king
   • his elevation to cardinal

Từ đồng nghĩa

• aggrandisement
• elevation