Exaggerate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when someone describes something as better, worse, more important, or more successful than it actually is. Often has a negative connotation.

• He tends to exaggerate his achievements to impress others.
• The media sometimes exaggerates the facts to catch the audience's attention.

Used when someone expresses or describes something in a way that makes it seem more significant than it really is. Typically viewed negatively.

• He overstates his role in the project.
• The advertisement overstated the benefits of the product.

Often used when adding decorative details but can also mean adding fictitious details to a story for effect. This can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation.

• She likes to embellish her home with beautiful plants and paintings.
• He embellished the story of his holiday with made-up adventures.

Usually used to describe making something appear larger than it is, often with lenses or scientific instruments. It can also metaphorically mean to make something seem more important or serious.

• The microscope can magnify tiny objects up to 1000 times.
• She tends to magnify her troubles, making them seem worse than they are.

Commonly used in a technical or literal sense, particularly with sound or signals, but can also mean to explain something in greater detail.

• The musician used a speaker to amplify his guitar sounds.
• She asked him to amplify his argument during the meeting.

Used when someone makes something seem bigger, better, or more important than it really is. Often used in everyday speech or writing to indicate that someone is stretching the truth without necessarily lying.

• He tends to exaggerate his achievements to make himself look better.
• Saying the movie was the worst ever is a bit of an exaggeration.

Used in situations where one puts too much effort or emphasis into an action, often leading to an undesirable effect. Can have a slightly negative connotation if implying excessiveness.

• She overdid it with the spices, and now the dish is too hot.
• You don't need to overdo the decorations; sometimes less is more.

Can be used when someone places too much importance on a particular aspect or detail, often leading to a skewed perspective. This can be negative as it suggests a lack of balance.

• Teachers should not overemphasize test scores as the sole measure of student success.
• The media tends to overemphasize sensational news stories.

Typically used in formal contexts such as literature or rhetoric, meaning to intentionally make something sound much larger or more extreme than it actually is. It often implies a deliberate use of exaggeration for effect.

• The poet tended to hyperbolize the emotions in his work.
• It's common to hyperbolize in political speeches to sway public opinion.