Dictionary

exaggerate

verb ex·ag·ger·ate \ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt\

: to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is

: to make (something) larger or greater than normal

ex·ag·ger·at·edex·ag·ger·at·ing

Full Definition of EXAGGERATE

transitive verb
1
:  to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth :  overstate <a friend exaggerates a man's virtues — Joseph Addison>
2
:  to enlarge or increase especially beyond the normal :  overemphasize
intransitive verb
:  to make an overstatement
ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ly adverb
ex·ag·ger·at·ed·ness noun
ex·ag·ger·a·tion \-ˌza-jə-ˈrā-shən\ noun
ex·ag·ger·a·tive \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tiv, -ˈzaj-rə-, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective
ex·ag·ger·a·tor \-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-tər\ noun
ex·ag·ger·a·to·ry \-ˈzaj-rə-ˌtr-ē, -ˈza-jə-\ adjective
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of EXAGGERATE

Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare, literally, to heap up, from ex- + agger heap, from aggerere to carry toward, from ad- + gerere to carry
First Known Use: 1613

Rhymes with EXAGGERATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
EXAGGERATED Defined for Kids

exaggerate

verb ex·ag·ger·ate \ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrāt\
ex·ag·ger·at·edex·ag·ger·at·ing

Definition of EXAGGERATE for Kids

:  to describe as larger or greater than what is true <She exaggerated her successes.>

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: exaggeratinglyPrevious Word in the Dictionary: ex aequo et bonoAll Words Near: exaggerate
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears