exaggeration

noun

ex·​ag·​ger·​a·​tion ig-ˌza-jə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce exaggeration (audio)
plural exaggerations
Synonyms of exaggeration
: an act or instance of exaggerating something : overstatement of the truth
She told us what happened without exaggeration.
: a statement that exaggerates something
a report filled with exaggerations and outright lies
But it's no exaggeration to say that this car has been one of the major linchpins of the burgeoning Asian hot-rod phenomenon.—Tony Swan
Scads of fibs, exaggerations and misleading statements have been swept up in the dragnet …—James Poniewozik

Synonyms of exaggeration

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Examples of exaggeration in a Sentence

their exaggeration was such that a rainstorm became a hurricane
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Staffers for major political figures have puzzled over the content, and are growing concerned about the rise of a new wave of videos with errors, exaggerations, misleading comments, and a tone that can be downright weird. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Asante draws a manufacturing analogy—with some exaggeration—arguing that previous nuclear power plants were built bespoke, akin to constructing an entire factory to produce a single car. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 The backlash is usually predictable, every wave of visible mobility aid use brings accusations of exaggeration and attention-seeking, aimed almost entirely at young women. — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Distracting from real issues These conspiracy theories are more than exaggerations for a broader audience. — Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exaggeration

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exaggeration was in 1565

Rhymes for exaggeration

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Browse Nearby Words

exaggeratingly
exaggeration
exaggerative
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Cite this Entry

“Exaggeration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exaggeration. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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