Exaggerator: meaning, definitions and examples

A person who makes something seem larger, more important, or more extreme than it is. This word often implies some degree of dishonesty or habitually stretching the truth, usually for personal gain or attention.

• He’s a terrible exaggerator who claimed he caught a fish as big as a car

Someone who adds extra details, often decorative or fanciful, to a story or situation. This usually suggests minor additions rather than complete fabrications.

• He's an embellisher who turns a routine trip to the store into an exciting adventure

A person who uses extreme exaggeration as a rhetorical device. This word is closely related to 'exaggerator' but is often used in more formal or literary contexts.

• As a hyperbolist, his descriptions of events were always vastly inflated

A person who writes plays or brings a strong sense of drama to situations, whether real or fictional. This term can be used more positively, indicating someone skilled in creating or highlighting dramatic moments.

• As a dramatist, she could turn a simple argument into an epic showdown

Suitable for describing someone who habitually makes things seem more dramatic or important than they really are. This can often carry a negative connotation.

• Tom is an exaggerator; he said there were a hundred people at the party when there were only fifty
• Sarah is known for being an exaggerator, always claiming she works 18 hours a day

Best used when referring to a tool or device that makes things appear larger, both in a literal and figurative sense. This word is more neutral.

• I used a magnifier to read the tiny print on the document
• His leadership skills worked as a magnifier for the team's potential

Useful for contexts involving the enhancement or increase of something, often in a technical or metaphorical sense. Not necessarily negative.

• The sound system includes an amplifier to boost the music's volume
• Her words acted as an amplifier of the team's morale

Refers to a person who often makes things seem bigger, better, or more important than they really are. This word has a somewhat negative connotation as it implies someone who habitually distorts the truth.

• He's known as an exaggerator who always makes his stories more dramatic than they are.

Describes presenting something as more significant or serious than it actually is, generally with a negative connotation. It is often used in formal or written contexts to critique someone's description or argument.

• It's not helpful to overstate the danger when discussing the new policy.
• He tends to overstate his professional achievements on his resume.

Used when increasing the volume of sound or making something stronger or more intense. Often used in technical contexts, like amplifying sound, or in metaphorical contexts, like amplifying a message or feeling.

• They used a microphone to amplify her voice.
• The marketing campaign was designed to amplify the brand's message.

Most commonly refers to physically filling something with air or gas, like inflating a balloon or a tire. It can also be used metaphorically to describe making something seem more important or larger in scale, usually in a negative way.

• He inflated the balloon for the party.
• She tends to inflate the difficulties she faces at work.