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exaggerate

verb

/ɪgzædʒəreɪt/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of exaggerate

To amplify or overstate something, often to emphasize its importance, impact, or significance beyond its actual or factual value.
"He tends to exaggerate his accomplishments to impress others."

Detailed meaning of exaggerate

When someone exaggerates, they tend to embellish or magnify certain aspects or details, typically with the intention of making a point, creating emphasis, or evoking a particular reaction. This can apply to various forms of communication, including speech, storytelling, or written descriptions. By exaggerating, individuals may seek to capture attention, provoke emotions, or make their narrative more compelling. However, exaggeration often involves stretching the truth or distorting reality, resulting in an inaccurate or inflated representation of the original subject. While exaggeration can be employed for rhetorical or artistic purposes, it is important to distinguish it from conveying objective and precise information.

Example sentences containing exaggerate

1. You always exaggerate the risk involved in these adventures.
2. The people in her stories exaggerate their accomplishments to impress others.
3. We must not exaggerate the impact of this single event.
4. I never exaggerate when I talk about my love for you.
5. She tends to exaggerate her responses to simple questions.
6. If we exaggerate the problem, it will only cause unnecessary panic.

History and etymology of exaggerate

The verb 'exaggerate' traces its origins to the Latin word 'exaggerare.' In Latin, 'ex' means 'thoroughly' or 'out of,' and 'aggerare' means 'to heap' or 'to pile up.' This etymology reveals the idea of piling up or heaping something beyond its ordinary measure, which aligns with the modern meaning of the word. Over time, as the word evolved linguistically, it came to signify the act of amplifying or overstating something to emphasize its significance, often going beyond factual accuracy. This transformation in meaning reflects the way language itself can exaggerate and expand in usage as it evolves through centuries.

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Further usage examples of exaggerate

1. They exaggerate their travel experiences to seem more worldly.
2. We can't exaggerate the importance of honesty in a relationship.
3. He will exaggerate the tale, adding more twists and turns each time.
4. Children often exaggerate when describing their day at school.
5. When they exaggerate the threat, it undermines their credibility.
6. Some people exaggerate their symptoms to get more attention.
7. Please don't exaggerate the issue, it's not as bad as it seems.
8. You exaggerate your contributions to the project to seem more valuable.
9. To exaggerate the benefits of a product is a common marketing strategy.
10. They exaggerate the negatives to justify their decision.
11. To exaggerate the results would compromise the integrity of the research.
12. I tend to exaggerate the complexity of the recipe to impress my guests.
13. She likes to exaggerate the size of the fish she caught last summer.
14. The news often tends to exaggerate the severity of weather conditions.