Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
exaggerate [ig-zaj-uh-reyt] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin verb (used with object), ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.
- to magnify beyond the limits of truth; overstate; represent disproportionately: to exaggerate the difficulties of a situation.
- to increase or enlarge abnormally: Those shoes exaggerate the size of my feet.
verb (used without object), ex·ag·ger·at·ed, ex·ag·ger·at·ing.
- to employ exaggeration, as in speech or writing: a person who is always exaggerating.
Origin of exaggerate 1525–35; Latin exaggerātus (past participle of exaggerāre heap up), equivalent to ex- ex-1 + agger heap + -ātus -ate1 Related formsex·ag·ger·at·ing·ly, adverbex·ag·ger·a·tor, nounnon·ex·ag·ger·at·ing, adjectiveo·ver·ex·ag·ger·ate, verb, o·ver·ex·ag·ger·at·ed, o·ver·ex·ag·ger·at·ing.un·ex·ag·ger·at·ing, adjectiveSynonyms for exaggerate 1. embellish, amplify, embroider. 2. inflate.Antonyms for exaggerate 1. minimize. Examples from the Web for exaggeratingly Historical Examples of exaggeratingly
“I think she is the most interesting and entertaining person I’ve seen in years,” declared Elfreda exaggeratingly.
Grace Harlowe’s Fourth Year at Overton College
Jessie Graham Flower
They are exaggeratingly pretended to be the product of great wisdom and art, and are rendered sweet and palatable to reason.
Martin Luther
British Dictionary definitions for exaggeratingly exaggerate verb
- to regard or represent as larger or greater, more important or more successful, etc, than is true
- (tr) to make greater, more noticeable, etc, than usualhis new clothes exaggerated his awkwardness
Derived Formsexaggeratingly, adverbexaggeration, nounexaggerative or exaggeratory, adjectiveexaggerator, nounWord Origin for exaggerate C16: from Latin exaggerāre to magnify, from aggerāre to heap, from agger heap Word Origin and History for exaggeratingly exaggerate v.
1530s, “to pile up, accumulate,” from Latin exaggeratus, past participle of exaggerare “heighten, amplify, magnify,” literally “to heap, pile, load, fill,” from ex- “thoroughly” (see ex-) + aggerare “heap up,” from agger (genitive aggeris) “heap,” from aggerere “bring together, carry toward,” from ad- “to, toward” + gerere “carry” (see gest). Sense of “overstate” first recorded in English 1560s. Related: Exaggerated; exaggerating.
