# hyperbolic

/ˌhaɪpɝˈbɑɫɪk/ (US) · /hˌaɪpəbˈɒlɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hyperbolic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. exaggerated

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describing language that makes something sound much bigger, better, or worse than it really is.

For teachers: relating to or using hyperbole; characterized by deliberate and obvious exaggeration for rhetorical effect.

- The politician's hyperbolic claims about the new law worried many voters.
- The marketing campaign was criticized for its hyperbolic language, which promised results that the product could not possibly deliver.

Usage: Often used to describe speech, writing, or claims that are not meant to be taken literally.

### 2. geometry/math

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

relating to a hyperbola, which is a special kind of curve in math.

For teachers: pertaining to a hyperbola or a space with constant negative curvature.

- The architect used a hyperbolic curve to design the roof of the stadium.
- In hyperbolic geometry, the parallel postulate of Euclid does not apply, leading to a space where lines diverge rapidly.

Usage: Usually non-gradable in this technical sense.

## Examples

- His claim that he waited for hours was hyperbolic.
- The politician's hyperbolic speech about the minor tax change caused unnecessary panic among the voters.
- While the author's prose is often hyperbolic, these stylistic excesses serve to mirror the protagonist's increasingly unstable and dramatic mental state.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.