exaggerate
/ig'zædʤəreit/
Definition
- Verb:
- To represent something as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it actually is: To overstate or overemphasize the truth about a fact, quality, or situation.
- To enlarge or increase something beyond the normal or proper limits: To make something seem more important or significant than it really is.
Usage and Examples
Basic Usage:
- She tends to exaggerate her accomplishments when she's nervous.
- The fisherman exaggerated the size of the fish he caught.
- It's difficult to know the truth because he always exaggerates the problems.
Common Constructions:
- exaggerate + noun: To exaggerate a story, a danger, a difficulty.
- exaggerate + how/what/why clause: He exaggerated how much the project would cost.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
- "to exaggerate for effect": To overstate something deliberately to create a stronger impression or reaction.
- The comedian exaggerated his gestures for comic effect.
- "not to exaggerate" / "without exaggerating": Used to emphasize that a statement, though possibly seeming extreme, is true.
- Without exaggerating, it was the best meal I've ever had.
Variants and Related Words
- Exaggeration (noun): The act of exaggerating or an exaggerated statement.
- His claim about walking 20 miles to school was a clear exaggeration.
- Exaggerated (adjective): Describing something that has been made to seem more than it is.
- She responded with an exaggerated sigh of disappointment.
Synonyms
- Overstate: To state too strongly; to overemphasize.
- Overemphasize: To give excessive importance to.
- Amplify: To make larger or more significant (can be neutral, but often implies exaggeration in context).
- Embroider: To add fictitious details to (a story).
Antonyms
- Understate: To describe or represent something as less than it is.
- Minimize: To make something seem less important or severe.
- Downplay: To make something appear less significant.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Blow out of proportion: To react to or describe an event or problem as much more serious than it is (a synonym for exaggerate in idiomatic use).
- The media blew the minor scandal completely out of proportion.
Verb
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do something to an excessive degree
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He overdid it last night when he did 100 pushups
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to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth
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tended to romanticize and exaggerate this `gracious Old South' imagery
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