overexaggerate

verb

over·​ex·​ag·​ger·​ate ˌō-vər-ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 

overexaggerated; overexaggerating

transitive + intransitive

: to exaggerate (something) to an excessive degree

overexaggerating the threat/danger/risk

Its effect/impact/importance was greatly overexaggerated.

Let's face it: we are hardly objective in evaluating ourselves. We overexaggerate both our talents and failings.

—Mark Rice-Oxley

He yawns, overexaggerating, like a silent screen star.

—Marly Swick

… Roberts's most disgusting habit threatened to tear their chemistry apart. OK, so maybe we're slightly overexaggerating.

—Crystal Bell

overexaggeration

ˌō-vər-ig-ˌza-jə-ˈrā-shən 

noun

plural overexaggerations

knew his complaint was an overexaggeration

overexaggerated adjective

overexaggerated gestures/claims

Examples of overexaggerate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition, a mindful approach to the mistake would lessen the need to either overexaggerate or deny its significance. —Anna Bruk, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2021

Hydrow claims that each stroke is virtually silent, but too often, companies overexaggerate quiet claims. —Steph Coelho, chicagotribune.com, 9 Sep. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined above