First Known Use: 1613
Dictionary
exaggerate
verb ex·ag·ger·ate \ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt\
: to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is
: to make (something) larger or greater than normal
ex·ag·ger·at·edex·ag·ger·at·ing
Full Definition of EXAGGERATE
transitive verb
1
: to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth : overstate <a friend exaggerates a man's virtues — Joseph Addison>
2
: to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal : overemphasize
intransitive verb
: to make an overstatement
— ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ly adverb
— ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ness noun
— ex·ag·ger·a·tion \-ˌza-jə-ˈrā-shən\ noun
— ex·ag·ger·a·tive \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tiv, -ˈzaj-rə-, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective
— ex·ag·ger·a·tor \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tər\ noun
— ex·ag·ger·a·to·ry \-ˈzaj-rə-ˌtȯr-ē, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective
See exaggerate defined for English-language learners
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Origin of EXAGGERATE
Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare, literally, to heap up, from ex- + agger heap, from aggerere to carry toward, from ad- + gerere to carry
Related to EXAGGERATE
- Synonyms
- color, elaborate (on), embellish, embroider, hyperbolize, magnify, pad, stretch
- Antonyms
- understate
Rhymes with EXAGGERATE
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EXAGGERATED Defined for Kids
exaggerate
verb ex·ag·ger·ate \ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt\
ex·ag·ger·at·edex·ag·ger·at·ing
Definition of EXAGGERATE for Kids
: to describe as larger or greater than what is true <She exaggerated her successes.>
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