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exaggerateto make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is

Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/

Example Sentences

  • My dad always exaggerates his fishing stories - the fish get bigger every time!
  • She tends to exaggerate her problems to get attention.
  • Don't exaggerate your experience on your resume - they'll find out during the interview!

exaggerate

VERB

[/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/]

to make something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is

Fishermen exaggerate the size of their catch with absurdly wide arm gestures.
💡 Concept

Fishermen exaggerate the size of their catch with absurdly wide arm gestures.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/
🇬🇧 UK/ɪɡˈzædʒəreɪt/

🌳Etymology

Prefixex--
Rootagger
Suffix--ate

Origin

From Latin 'exaggeratus', the past participle of 'exaggerare', which combines 'ex-' (out) and 'aggerare' (to heap up, from 'agger' meaning heap or mound).

Breakdown

ex- (out) + agger (heap) + -ate (verb suffix) = exaggerate (to heap up/pile on, figuratively to amplify or overstate)

🎵Rhyme

celebratedemonstrateelaborate
celebrate
demonstrate
elaborate

🔗Collocations

exaggerate the truth
greatly exaggerate
exaggerate problems
tend to exaggerate
wildly exaggerate
exaggerate one's achievements

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My dad always exaggerates his fishing stories - the fish get bigger every time!

She tends to exaggerate her problems to get attention.

😄 Fun example

Don't exaggerate your experience on your resume - they'll find out during the interview!

The news media often exaggerate minor incidents to create sensational headlines.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

overstateembellishmagnifyamplifyinflate

Antonyms

understateminimizedownplay

Related

hyperboleoverstatementdramatizesensationalize

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