exaggerate

 
Pronunciation: /ɪgˈzadʒəreɪt, ɛg-/

verb

[with object]
  • represent (something) as being larger, better, or worse than it really is: she was apt to exaggerate any aches and pains [no object]: I couldn’t sleep for three days—I’m not exaggerating
  • (as adjective exaggerated) enlarged or altered beyond normal proportions: exaggerated features such as a massive head and beetling brows

Derivatives

exaggeratedly

adverb

exaggerative

Pronunciation: /-rətɪv/
adjective

exaggerator

noun

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin exaggerat- 'heaped up', from the verb exaggerare, from ex- 'thoroughly' + aggerare 'heap up' (from agger 'heap'). The word originally meant 'pile up, accumulate', later 'intensify praise or blame', giving rise to current senses

Spelling help

Spell exaggerate and the related word exaggeration with a double g and a single r.

a bragger always exaggerates.