1
as in to enhance
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the American colonist John Smith is believed by many historians to have exaggerated his adventures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to overstate
to describe or express in too strong terms
it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exaggerate
The duo leaned into G-Star’s signature anatomical design principles and exaggerated them with a cool wash and moto stitching and seam details.
—
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
Dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor did not exaggerate the consequences of the court’s 6-3 decision.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Critics say the deal undervalued the golf course and exaggerated the benefits.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
The White House has faced criticism from Democrats and even its own anti-immigration allies for exaggerating an immigrant crime wave while holding harmless the employers whose decisions shape huge sectors of the American economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 8 July 2025
Dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor did not exaggerate the consequences of the court’s 6-3 decision.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 July 2025
Critics say the deal undervalued the golf course and exaggerated the benefits.
—Sarah Lapidus, AZCentral.com, 3 July 2025
The White House has faced criticism from Democrats and even its own anti-immigration allies for exaggerating an immigrant crime wave while holding harmless the employers whose decisions shape huge sectors of the American economy.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for exaggerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerate
Verb
-
So, do not try to enhance your level by changing a Director role to a VP one.—
Robin Ryan,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
While administration officials tout the bill as a tool to enhance public safety, immigration experts caution that the funding far exceeds what's needed to target serious criminal offenders.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
The reality is this: AI innovation is accelerating at a pace that’s hard to overstate.—
Yi Shi,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Advanced Energy United, a trade group representing the advanced energy industry, suggested the report may overstate the risks of blackouts and undervalue resources like wind, solar and battery storage.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
These days, they're slightly padded up by his salt and pepper beard, but remain a distinct feature.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
12 July 2025
-
The Thunder continued to pad their advantage in the second quarter with major contributions from the team’s stars as well as some of its reserves.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
17 June 2025
Verb
-
But as with anything, there is such a thing as overdoing it on sleep tech.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Fortune,
20 July 2025
-
The crab is known for loving deeply and intensely—which is wonderful for children, but just be careful not to overdo it.—
Kara Nesvig,
Parents,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
The filthy talk of collusion, of course hyperbolized by Unsocial Media, again is crawling out of the swamp.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2023
-
Yet the internet — the same force that has increased awareness of social-justice movements — has hyperbolized all entreaties to our fragmented attention spans.—
Lauren Oyler,
New York Times,
8 May 2018
Verb
-
In June, the average job search stretched to 23 weeks, or nearly six months.—
Julia Korn,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Dozens of uprooted trees tangled with clothes and debris stretched across the rocky expanse between houses and river.—
Matthew Odam,
Austin American Statesman,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
After the first rinse, shampoo, and condition, skip shampooing for at least 48 hours after coloring to allow everything to settle and last longer.—
Essence,
Essence,
22 July 2025
-
Free events give families a chance to learn about local reptiles and insects and their contribution to the environment through arts and crafts, wildlife toys, matching games, coloring pages and books, according to the park district said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
21 July 2025
Verb
-
District officials are expecting even more calls this week from those with automatic bill paying, if their bank accounts get massively overdrawn.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
1 July 2013
-
The spacecraft’s computer, communications system and instruments all require energy to operate, so scientists are faced with a tough choice: hand select where to save power by sacrificing particular instruments or risk overdrawing the power supply and losing the whole spacecraft.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share