ex·ag·ger·at·ed
ig-ˈza-jə-ˌrā-təd
1
: excessively or inappropriately heightened, inflated, or overstated
exaggerated fears
a wildly exaggerated story
As students go from one disconnected course to the next, they tend to form a highly exaggerated idea of the differences between teachers and subjects.—Gerald Graff
2
: enlarged or increased beyond the normal : greater than normal
… many people have an unusual or exaggerated response to a drug, but they are not necessarily allergic to the drug.—Paul D. Buisseret
exaggeratedly
adverb
… my own view of the art of architecture—a view that many people (including many architects) would perhaps consider an exaggeratedly lofty one.
—Brendan Gill
Koenig's movements were brisk, exaggeratedly optimistic.
—Nick Paumgarten
exaggeratedness
noun
… we often do not respond to exaggeration by simply pointing out its exaggeratedness …
—Julie Kuhlken
exaggerated
2 of 2past tense and past participle of exaggerate
Cite this Entry
“Exaggerated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggerated. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
