ex·ag·ger·ate
(ĭg-zăj′ə-rāt′)v. ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing, ex·ag·ger·ates
v.tr. 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.
v.intr. To make overstatements.
[Latin exaggerāre, exaggerāt-, to heap up, magnify : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + aggerāre, to pile up (from agger, pile, from aggerere, to bring to : ad-, ad- + gerere, to bring).]
ex·ag′ger·at′ed·ly adv.
ex·ag′ger·a′tion n.
ex·ag′ger·a′tive, ex·ag′ger·a·to′ry (-ə-tôr′ē) adj.
ex·ag′ger·a′tor n.
Synonyms: exaggerate, inflate, magnify, overstate These verbs mean to represent something as being larger or greater than it actually is:
exaggerated the size of the fish I caught; inflated his own importance; magnifying her part in their success; overstated his income on the loan application. American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.