exaggeration
gb/ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/ us/ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
B2
English
~ 8500
túlzás, eltúlzás
NOUN
B2
1
túlzás
B1
Usage pattern:
an exaggeration of [something]
Saying the project was a total disaster is an exaggeration.
Túlzás azt mondani, hogy a projekt teljes katasztrófa volt.
Her claim that she waited for three hours is probably an exaggeration.
Az az állítása, hogy három órát várt, valószínűleg túlzás.
It would be no exaggeration to call this the most important match of the season.
His description of the restaurant as ‘the best in the world’ is pure exaggeration.
The headline was a wild exaggeration of what actually happened.
Learner examples
Saying the movie was the worst ever is an exaggeration.
Túlzás azt mondani, hogy a film minden idők legrosszabbja volt.
His story about catching a fish as big as a car is an exaggeration.
Az a története, hogy akkora halat fogott, mint egy autó, túlzás.
It is no exaggeration to say she works very hard.
That sounds like an exaggeration to me.
The news report used a lot of exaggeration.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun "exaggeration" with the verb "exaggerate" and say *"He exaggeration"* instead of *"He exaggerates"*. Another common mistake is forgetting the article and saying *"That is exaggeration"* when the natural phrase is *"That is an exaggeration"* in countable use.
Meaning
Statement that goes beyond the facts
Collocations
a slight exaggeration
|a bit of an exaggeration
|gross exaggeration
|wild exaggeration
|no exaggeration
|not an exaggeration
Synonyms
overstatement (Very close in meaning; slightly more formal and used especially in careful or written English.)
|
hyperbole (More formal and literary; often used for deliberate, dramatic exaggeration for effect.)
Antonyms
understatement (Describes something as less important or smaller than it really is, the opposite direction from exaggeration.)
|
accurate description (States the facts without making them bigger or smaller, direct opposite of exaggeration in this sense.)
Themes
communication
|media
|daily_life
Definition
A sentence or description that makes something seem bigger, better, worse, or more extreme than it really is.
A statement or description that makes something appear larger, better, worse, or more extreme than it really is.
B2
2
túlzás
B1
Usage pattern:
a tendency toward exaggeration in [something]
He's charming, but his constant exaggeration makes it hard to know what really happened.
Elbűvölő, de az állandó túlzásai miatt nehéz tudni, mi történt valójában.
There is always some exaggeration in political speeches.
A politikai beszédekben mindig van némi túlzás.
Her tendency toward exaggeration annoys her colleagues.
The film is entertaining, but the exaggeration of events makes it unrealistic.
Children often use exaggeration when they tell stories about their day.
Learner examples
His exaggeration makes his stories hard to believe.
A túlzásai miatt nehéz elhinni a történeteit.
There was a lot of exaggeration in his report.
Sok túlzás volt a jelentésében.
She has a habit of exaggeration when she talks about her job.
The book uses exaggeration to make the story fun.
I am tired of his exaggeration about small problems.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that "exaggeration" can describe a general habit, so they use only the verb and say *"He always exaggerates"* instead of also using the noun phrase *"He has a tendency toward exaggeration"*. Both are natural, but the noun allows you to describe the person's style or character.
Meaning
Habit or practice of overstating
Collocations
prone to exaggeration
|a tendency toward exaggeration
|given to exaggeration
|his love of exaggeration
|constant exaggeration
|full of exaggeration
Synonyms
embellishment (Suggests adding extra, often untrue, details to make a story more interesting; sometimes sounds slightly milder or more playful.)
Antonyms
precision (Emphasizes careful, exact description, without making things bigger or smaller.)
|
restraint (The habit of not using extreme language, opposite to a tendency toward exaggeration.)
Themes
personality
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The way a person often talks about things as bigger, better, worse, or more extreme than they really are.
The act, practice, or tendency of making things seem larger, better, worse, or more extreme than they really are.
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
eltúlzás
B2
Usage pattern:
exaggeration of [features] in [artwork]
The cartoon relies on exaggeration of facial features to make the characters more expressive.
A karikatúra az arcvonások eltúlzására épít, hogy kifejezőbbé tegye a szereplőket.
In this painting, the exaggeration of scale gives the landscape a dreamlike quality.
Ezen a festményen a lépték eltúlzása álomszerű jelleget ad a tájnak.
The director uses exaggeration in the actors' movements to highlight the comic tone of the play.
The designer's subtle exaggeration of the car's lines makes it look faster and more dynamic.
Exaggeration of proportion is a key element in many styles of modern sculpture.
Learner examples
The artist uses exaggeration to make the eyes very big.
A művész eltúlzást alkalmaz, hogy a szemek nagyon nagyok legyenek.
There is clear exaggeration of the body in this cartoon.
Ebben a karikatúrában jól látható a test eltúlzása.
Exaggeration in the picture makes the scene look strange.
The actor uses exaggeration in his voice and body to be funny.
The movie uses exaggeration of color and light.
Common mistake:
Learners may think "exaggeration" only applies to spoken or written statements and not realize it is also a technical term in art and design for changing shapes, sizes, or movements on purpose.
Meaning
Deliberate visual distortion in art
Collocations
visual exaggeration
|artistic exaggeration
|exaggeration of form
|exaggeration of features
|exaggeration of movement
Synonyms
distortion (Technical art term; focuses on changing normal proportions or shapes, not always as extreme or playful as "exaggeration".)
|
caricature (Usually refers to a drawing or style where features are exaggerated for comic effect, rather than the general technique.)
Antonyms
realism (An artistic style that tries to show subjects exactly as they appear in real life, without exaggeration.)
|
naturalism (Focuses on lifelike, accurate representation, opposite of deliberately exaggerating features.)
Themes
art
|media
|arts_entertainment
Definition
In art or acting, changing some parts to look much bigger, smaller, or stronger than in real life to create a strong effect.
In art, design, or performance, the deliberate making of certain features much larger, smaller, or more extreme than in real life in order to create a strong visual or emotional effect.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exaggeration
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
US/ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
ex - ag - ger - a - tion (5 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ger)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: exaggeration
- Plural: exaggeration, exaggerations
Word family
Forms
exaggerations
noun
Core family
exaggerate
verb B1
exaggerated
adjective
Related words
overstate
verb C1
overstatement
noun
Negative and opposite forms
understate
verb B2
understatement
noun
Advanced or less common
exaggeratedly
adverb
exaggerator
noun
Expressions
a bit of an exaggeration
1/ə bˈɪt əv ən ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
informal
Slight overstatement
Used to say that a sentence someone said is a little too strong, but still close to the truth.
Examples
- Saying the party was a total failure is a bit of an exaggeration.
- It’s a bit of an exaggeration to call him famous, but he is well known in the area.
- Three hundred emails in one day? That sounds like a bit of an exaggeration.
no exaggeration
1/nˈoʊ ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Truly not overstated
Used to say that what you just said, or are going to say, is really true and not made bigger or stronger.
Examples
- It is no exaggeration to say that this decision will change the company’s future.
- The traffic was, no exaggeration, the worst I’ve ever seen.
- It’s no exaggeration to call her one of the best players in the world.
not an exaggeration
1/nˈɑt ən ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Confirms a strong claim is accurate
Used to say that a strong sentence or number you just used is true and not bigger than the real thing.
Examples
- When I say the queue was a kilometer long, it’s not an exaggeration.
- Calling the result a disaster is not an exaggeration in this case.
- People say he works 16 hours a day, and that’s not an exaggeration.
that's an exaggeration
1/ðˈæts ən ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Saying a claim is too strong
Used to tell someone that what they just said makes something sound bigger, better, or worse than it really is.
Examples
- You’re not the only one who has problems; that’s an exaggeration.
- Calling him a genius is a bit much—that’s an exaggeration.
- She says she never gets a break, but that’s an exaggeration.
without exaggeration
1/wɪðˈaʊt ɪɡzˌæd͡ʒɚˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
In a completely accurate way
Used to stress that you are speaking in a very true and exact way, not making things sound bigger or stronger.
Examples
- Without exaggeration, it was the coldest winter the region had seen in decades.
- The company has, without exaggeration, doubled its profits in a single year.
- He can, without exaggeration, be called a pioneer in this field.