Word of the Day

: August 5, 2023

aggrandize

verb uh-GRAN-dyze

What It Means

To aggrandize something is to enhance its power, wealth, position, or reputation. Aggrandize can also mean "to increase or enlarge" or "to praise highly."

// Critics of the book argued that the author aggrandizes corrupt politicians.

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aggrandize in Context

"By definition and disposition, the spy presents a daunting challenge to the historian. Expected to be elusive and deceptive, secret agents prefer to swallow written evidence, not preserve it. Then, if they survive to write memoirs, they often aggrandize their achievements at the expense of truth." — Harold Holzer, The Wall Street Journal, 2 Aug. 2019

Did You Know?

Aggrandize is a grand word, and we don’t just mean that in praise. The word literally traces back to the Latin adjective grandis, meaning "grand," and it has enhanced the English language for over three centuries. Nowadays, aggrandize is often paired with self (either the word or the prefix: to "aggrandize oneself" or to "be self-aggrandizing" is to glorify oneself, or to intently pursue power, wealth, and the like. It's of course great to take pride in a job well done, but we stan those who keep it real—after all, not every hit can be a grand slam.