ex·ag·ger·ate
(ĭg-zăj́ə-rāt́)
[Latin exaggerāre, exaggerāt-, to heap up, magnify, ex-, intensive pref.; see ex–, + aggerāre, to pile up (from agger, pile) (from aggerere, to bring to) (ad-, ad-) (gerere, to bring).]
verb: -at·ed, -at·ing, -ates.
transitive verb
- To represent as greater than is actually the case; overstate: exaggerate the size of the enemy force; exaggerated his own role in the episode.
- To enlarge or increase to an abnormal degree: thick lenses that exaggerated the size of her eyes.
intransitive verb
- To make overstatements.
derivatives
- ex·aǵger·at́ed·ly
- adverb
- ex·aǵger·átion
- noun
- ex·aǵger·átive
- adjective
- ex·aǵger·átor
- noun
synonyms:
exaggerate, inflate, magnify, overstate These verbs mean to represent something as being larger or greater than it actually is: exaggerated the size of the fish I caught; inflated his own importance; magnifying her part in their success; overstated his income on the loan application.
Antonym: minimize
