1
as in enhances
to add to the interest of by including made-up details
the American colonist John Smith is believed by many historians to have exaggerated his adventures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in overstates
to describe or express in too strong terms
it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exaggerates
The same prime minister who exaggerates his power is also fine with being portrayed as the patsy of more influential actors.
—
Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.
—Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether or not The Bitch of Buchenwald did what is reenacted on the show isn’t relevant, because her activities are placed in the context of a comic book that exaggerates history to make a point — just like Monster does.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
Some critics have said that Costa exaggerates Malafaia’s influence.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
The fact that the company exaggerates the job numbers, as well as the true number of states where the plane produces a significant number of jobs does not alter the fact that economic arguments carry a lot of weight in Congressional decisions on weapons procurement.
—William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Mandel criticized the media for accepting Hamas’s claims at face value, which exaggerates the crisis and undermines non-Hamas aid efforts.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
Ari Ben Menashe, a onetime Israeli operative whom Israeli and American officials have said is a fabulist who vastly exaggerates and fabricates, claims to have run Epstein as an asset.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
Machiel was also the first to bring it home to me that water scarcity caused by a heating planet exaggerates the gender inequity so much more than many of us realize.
—Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Tainy’s Prometheus — is portrayed by Feid, dressed in an oversized leather coat and lit in a manner that exaggerates his grills in an eerie way.
—Juan J. Arroyo, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Whether or not The Bitch of Buchenwald did what is reenacted on the show isn’t relevant, because her activities are placed in the context of a comic book that exaggerates history to make a point — just like Monster does.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025
Some critics have said that Costa exaggerates Malafaia’s influence.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2025
The fact that the company exaggerates the job numbers, as well as the true number of states where the plane produces a significant number of jobs does not alter the fact that economic arguments carry a lot of weight in Congressional decisions on weapons procurement.
—William Hartung, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Mandel criticized the media for accepting Hamas’s claims at face value, which exaggerates the crisis and undermines non-Hamas aid efforts.
—Amy Delaura, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025
Ari Ben Menashe, a onetime Israeli operative whom Israeli and American officials have said is a fabulist who vastly exaggerates and fabricates, claims to have run Epstein as an asset.
—Ron Kampeas, Sun Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2025
Machiel was also the first to bring it home to me that water scarcity caused by a heating planet exaggerates the gender inequity so much more than many of us realize.
—Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerates
Verb
-
This investment expands the production of the Bushmaster, supports jobs, boosts sovereign capacity and enhances Australian manufacturing capabilities, standing ready to efficiently meet international demand.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pro hairstylist Ryan Richman previously described this Briogeo cream as a lightweight, silicone-free heat-protectant cream that minimizes frizz, smooths hair, enhances shine, and protects against heat up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His reading dramatically overstates what the court actually did.—
Kris Fair,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The algorithm, and the economy that supports it, first escalates speech that overstates the emotions that underlie it.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Talk to me a little bit about how Santos’ own experience with addiction and self-harm colors her relationship with Langdon.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Which colors merit entries in the dictionary?—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alexander’s staging occasionally overdoes the comic exuberance.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
But Maura never overdoes the feisty granny bit.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The deal also expands surveillance capabilities through drones, helicopters and electronic monitoring to better prevent crossing attempts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Apr. 2026
-
These rubbery, firm nodules are called keloids, which are poorly understood skin growths that result from wound healing that goes awry and expands beyond the borders of the original wound.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Adding the killer’s voice just pads an already too-long book.—
Maren Longbella,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Not to say there aren’t some clunkers, most notably a jokey take-me-out-to-the-ballgame baseball number that pads the second act, but the Flaherty-Ahrens score was and is Ragtime‘s signature achievement.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And although this recipe embellishes the gourd with sautéed mushrooms, the roasted squash is also delectable all by itself.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Noriega, the analyst, said that the amount companies are paying to cross the Panama Canal may continue to go up if the conflict stretches on, as oil prices are already skyrocketing.—
Alma Solís,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Announced Tuesday, the official feature competition includes 11 films, with France again playing an outsized role — six of the titles are French productions or co-productions — even as the selection stretches across Asia and the Americas.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerates. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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