Exaggerate Definition
ĭg-zăjə-rāt
exaggerated, exaggerates, exaggerating
verb
exaggerated, exaggerates, exaggerating
To consider, represent, or cause to appear as larger, more important, or more extreme than is actually the case; overstate.
Exaggerated his own role in the episode; exaggerated the size of the enemy force; exaggerated how difficult the project would be.
American Heritage
To give an exaggerated description or account.
Webster's New World
To think, speak, or write of as greater than is really so; magnify beyond the fact; overstate.
Webster's New World
To increase or enlarge to an extreme or abnormal degree; overemphasize; intensify.
Webster's New World
To make overstatements.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
Origin of Exaggerate
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From Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare (“to heap up, increase, enlarge, magnify, amplify, exaggerate”), from ex (“out, up”) + aggerare (“to heap up”), from agger (“a pile, heap, mound, dike, mole, pier, etc.”), from aggerere, adgerere (“to bring together”), from ad (“to”) + gerere (“to carry”).
From Wiktionary
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Latin exaggerāre exaggerāt- to heap up, magnify ex- intensive pref. ex– aggerāre to pile up (from agger pile) (from aggerere to bring to) (ad- ad-) (gerere to bring)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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