1
as in padding
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 overstating
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 exaggerating
Apple just settled a class-action lawsuit for exaggerating the AI capabilities of its newest iPhones.
—
Vitaliy Katsenelson, Fortune, 14 May 2026
The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Flopping and exaggerating contact is different.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Flopping is exaggerating contact that’s already there.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
By exaggerating the patients’ health problems, insurers collect larger payments from government without providing additional healthcare.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term featured record numbers of disappearances and homicides, complained that political adversaries were exaggerating the problem to smear his reputation and legacy.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Perhaps it was meant as a joke, the proud mother exaggerating her immigrant family’s importance.
—Glenn Kurtz, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Vitaliy Katsenelson, Fortune, 14 May 2026
The league decided to introduce postgame flop fines in the 2012-13 season where plays were reviewed after games and those individuals were fined for exaggerating contact.
—Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
Flopping and exaggerating contact is different.
—Matt Schooley, CBS News, 4 May 2026
Flopping is exaggerating contact that’s already there.
—Devon Henderson, New York Times, 4 May 2026
By exaggerating the patients’ health problems, insurers collect larger payments from government without providing additional healthcare.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Iranian hackers boasted online of the hacks against Patel and the medical device maker while exaggerating their impact.
—Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, whose term featured record numbers of disappearances and homicides, complained that political adversaries were exaggerating the problem to smear his reputation and legacy.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2026
Perhaps it was meant as a joke, the proud mother exaggerating her immigrant family’s importance.
—Glenn Kurtz, Time, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerating
Verb
-
The stock closed at a record high of $237 — padding out year-to-date gains to 117%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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From his earliest days as an agent, Meredith proudly flouted industry convention while inflating his own reputation and padding his bank account.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While agreeing that the FPV drones were a new challenge, Zehavi cautioned against overstating their impact.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In 1998, Buffett warned against overstating your impact.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To understand that definition, put yourself in the position of the verifier in the map-coloring example.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
11 May 2026
-
Orange and blue start coloring the sky.—
Dana Munro,
Washington Post,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The lamp adds a pop of color and personality without overdoing it, and comes in hues like dark green, navy blue, crimson, and beige.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2026
-
Of course, finding a way to pay homage to a movie that came to define a generation — without overdoing it — would be no small feat.—
Angelique Jackson,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Venturella spent time in Gary in 2016 wooing the city with cash infusions for its public safety agencies, workforce development and construction assistance for enhancing Airport Road.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The ceiling is also covered with fabric, adding more opulence and enhancing live acoustics for performances in the entertainment space.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The Cascadia Subduction Zone is a 700-mile fault stretching from Northern California to British Columbia and separates the Juan de Fuca and North America tectonic plates, according to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN).—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
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Rai said the additional five years, stretching the patent from 2026 to 2031, likely stem from the Hatch-Waxman Act, a 1984 law that allows drugmakers to extend patents by up to five years to make up for time lost moving their drug through clinical trials and the FDA approval process.—
Berkeley Lovelace Jr,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Gauthier was hyperbolizing, but his statement looked true Monday.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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With revenue-sharing challenges mounting across college athletics — and some schools already cutting sports — expanding the playoff has become a potential financial lifeline.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
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According to Abbott's office, the Texas Department of Public Safety is immediately expanding the Texas Repeat Offender Taskforce to the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin metropolitan areas.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerating. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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