Synonyms of exaggerate

exaggerate 1 of 3

verb (1)

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt 

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

• enhance
• pad
• hyperbolize
• color
• embellish
• expand
• magnify
• embroider
• stretch
• elaborate (on)
• emphasize
• satirize
• amplify
• overstate
• overemphasize
• overdo
• enlarge (on or upon)
• stress
• flesh (out)
• overdraw
• overplay
• hedge
• caricature
• play up
• fudge
• dress up
• gussy up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimize
• understate
• belittle
• play down

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

• overstate
• overdo
• pad
• stretch
• overdraw
• elaborate
• put on
• embellish
• embroider
• overemphasize
• magnify
• color
• play up
• sensationalize
• overplay
• hedge
• fudge
• melodramatize

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understate
• minimize
• belittle
• play down

exaggerated

2 of 3

adjective

ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-təd 

as in inflated

extended beyond normal or realistic bounds

loves the exaggerated emotions that are part and parcel of grand opera

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inflated
• overblown
• outsized
• hyperbolized
• overdrawn
• bloated
• outsize
• enlarged
• overstated
• magnified
• elaborated
• stretched
• padded
• embellished
• overweening
• overemphasized
• unrealistic
• unreasonable
• embroidered
• overplayed
• grandiose
• unreal
• overdone
• preposterous
• hyped-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reasonable
• realistic

exaggerated

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of exaggerate

1

as in padded

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

• padded
• colored
• enhanced
• hyperbolized
• embellished
• expanded
• embroidered
• stretched
• elaborated (on)
• magnified
• satirized
• emphasized
• amplified
• overstated
• stressed
• overemphasized
• enlarged (on or upon)
• caricatured
• fleshed (out)
• hedged
• overplayed
• gussied up
• overdid
• fudged
• dressed up
• played up
• overdrew

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• minimized
• understated
• belittled
• played down

2

as in overstated

to describe or express in too strong terms

it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

Synonyms & Similar Words

• overstated
• padded
• stretched
• elaborated
• overdid
• put on
• embellished
• embroidered
• overdrew
• colored
• overemphasized
• magnified
• sensationalized
• hedged
• played up
• fudged
• overplayed
• melodramatized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• understated
• minimized
• belittled
• played down

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of exaggerate

Verb

If Reilly is right, Trump wouldn’t be the first world leader to exaggerate his accomplishments on the links. —Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 17 Mar. 2025

Trying To Make Your Partner Jealous Some individuals might respond to jealousy by trying to trigger it in their partner—flirting with others, bringing up past relationships or exaggerating attention from someone else. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Wrangler Retro High-Rise Trumpet Flare Jeans For a more statement-making option, try these Wrangler jeans with an exaggerated trumpet flare. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 13 Mar. 2025

Tubular structures framed the models’ faces and encircled their hips, creating the illusion of exaggerated proportions, while pleats unfolded like corollas. —Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025