EXAGGERATING Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

exaggerating

verb

present participle of exaggerate

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in overstating

to describe or express in too strong terms it would be impossible to exaggerate the importance of this entrance exam

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of exaggerating But to imply that a world-class athlete is exaggerating an injury to preserve his reputation is a staggering lapse in judgment. — Matt Calkins Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026 South Korea’s military, which often accuses the North of exaggerating its military technologies, did not immediately comment on KCNA’s report. — ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026 Attorneys who represent officers that have sued the department over whistleblower retaliation dismiss the claim by Chief Jim McDonnell and others that some cops are exaggerating their claims in pursuit of a big payday. — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The South Korean military, which often accuses North Korea of exaggerating its military capabilities, did not immediately comment on Kim's claims. — Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026 Accusers were exaggerating or lying outright in pursuit of a payday. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 The hiring trust crisis is usually described as candidates exaggerating, the part background screening is built to catch. — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The financial affiliations have prompted speculation, especially through strands of the Iranian diaspora, who accuse some of its journalists of exaggerating the level of support for figures in the opposition and of advocating for war. — Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 Thomas cautioned against exaggerating the power of AI agents, however. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exaggerating

Verb

But one expert estimated the diesel waiver alone could help Russian exporters net $30 to $40 more per ton, in turn padding Moscow’s tax revenue.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Trump won the area in 2020 by 2 points before padding his victory to 9 points in 2024.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of padding

Verb

As a result, one lead record can understate the number of people involved while overstating the value of a single trackable interaction.

— David Steifman, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Experts, however, question how widespread the fraud in the program is — and whether the administration is overstating its role in the ACA’s enrollment increases.

— Berkeley Lovelace Jr, NBC news, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of overstating

Verb

One of her concerns is layering products, which can easily lead to overdoing it on the actives.

— Korin Miller, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
Experts say to avoid washing darks with linty fabrics, overdoing the detergent and using the heavy-duty wash cycle, among other tips.

— Jolie Kerr, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of overdoing

Verb

The finishing touch should be a shine-enhancing hair gloss to blend the blonde tones seamlessly into the brunette strands.

— Jacqueline Kilikita, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
The initiative was part of the retailer’s aim to support new talents and its increasing focus on enhancing its brand awareness globally.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enhancing

Verb

Enter the extrait de parfum, a fragrance with concentration beginning at around 20 percent and stretching as high as 60 percent in some cases, versus typically 15 to 20 percent for an eau de parfum.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
The Fantasy Bra has a long history, stretching back 30 years.

— Max Berlinger, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of stretching

Verb

The four countries agreed Monday to continue talks on expanding cooperation among them, particularly about regional peace and security, a statement said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Some brands are expanding their use of advance material and capacity commitments, while delaying final decisions on color, SKU quantities or market allocation.

— Jessica Binns, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of expanding

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exaggerates

exaggerating

exaggeration

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Style

“Exaggerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exaggerating. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of exaggerating

verb

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