exaggeration
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a statement that makes something sound more impressive, important, or serious than it is.
the act of representing something in an excessive manner that goes beyond the bounds of literal truth.
Simple“It is no exaggeration to say that the storm destroyed the entire village.”
In context“The claim that the company would double its profits overnight was a gross exaggeration intended to attract gullible investors.”
PitfallIt is an exaggeration of saying he is the best. It is an exaggeration to say he is the best.Use the infinitive 'to say' or a noun phrase after 'exaggeration', rather than 'of' followed by a gerund.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
making a feature or quality look much stronger or more beautiful than in real life.
a representation of things beyond natural life in terms of expression, power, or beauty, often for aesthetic effect.
Simple“The artist used exaggeration in the character's eyes to show deep sadness.”
In context“The sculptor employed deliberate exaggeration of the muscular structure to convey a sense of divine power rather than human anatomy.”
SynonymsamplificationidealizationAntonyms
“Sadly, none of this bluster, this exaggeration of how big the problem is, will help any of the people hurting because of the new tariffs and counter-tariffs.”
From Latin exaggerātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.