Definition

A person who makes things seem larger, more important, or more extreme than they really are.

Example

He is known as an exaggerator because he always tells stories that are much more dramatic than what actually happened.

Conversation

Did you hear Jake's story about the big fish he caught?

Yeah, but you know he's such an exaggerator when it comes to fishing.

Right? I can't believe he said it was five feet long!

Exactly! It's probably more like two feet at most.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Exaggerator → It is formed from "ex-" (meaning out) and "aggerare" (meaning to heap or pile up). The word describes someone who piles up or inflates the truth, making things seem greater than they are.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who takes the truth and 'piles it up' ('aggerare') to make it seem bigger or more important than it really is.

Visually Confused Words