ex·ag·ger·ate ( g-z j -r t )v. ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing, ex·ag·ger·ates v.tr.1. To represent as greater than is actually the case; overstate: exaggerate the size of the enemy force; exaggerated his own role in the episode. 2. To enlarge or increase to an abnormal degree: thick lenses that exaggerated the size of her eyes. v.intr. To make overstatements.
[Latin exagger re, exagger t-, to heap up, magnify : ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + agger re, 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 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. |