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

Sculptural silhouettes were exaggerated in everything from skirts, power shoulders, hourglass jackets, coats and gowns. —Rhonda Richford, WWD, 12 Mar. 2025

The physical comedy is top-tier — especially when Cumming leans into his lanky goofiness and Hodgson exaggerates Montagu's buffoonish nature. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Although Trump argues the tariffs on Canada and Mexico are necessary to strengthen border security and stop the flow of deadly drugs into the U.S., Kaine says the threat is exaggerated. —Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 3 Apr. 2025

The tongue isn’t quite as exaggerated, and if anything, the Tokyos look like a crossover between the Sambas and Taekwondos but with a more retro or vintage flair. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2025